Sama-Bajau music and dance celebrated in Pesta Igal 2023

On 22 November 2023, Areté in partnership with the University of the Philippines Asian Center and Tanghalang Ateneo hosted the Pesta Igal 2023, a celebration of Sama-Bajau dance and music, at the Hyundai Hall in Areté, Ateneo de Manila University. 

An artistic collaboration lead by Areté Artistic Director, Dr Ricardo Abad, Areté Resident Technical Director D Cortezano and UP Asian Center Associate Dean, Dr Matthew Santamaria - Pesta Igal 2023 featured choreographic pieces of Dr Santamaria with performances by Radzmina Tanjili and Kiram Ignacio, Sama Bangigi dance masters from the Sama Community of San Andres, Manila. 

Other performers included the San Andres Kulintangan Ensemble, Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino or Kontra-GaPi, the resident ethnic music and dance ensemble of the University of the Philippines Diliman's College of Arts and Letters; the Novo Concertante Manila chamber choir, led by choirmaster Dr Arwin Tan; Prof Lester Demetillo, one of the country's leading classical guitar performers and teachers; and Blue Igal, a group of Tanghalang Ateneo members getting extensive training in the Igal dance form. 

The event was opened with remarks by Dr Estelle Marie M Ladrido, Executive Director of Arete. This was followed by welcoming addresses from Edgardo Carlo L Vistan II, LLM, University of the Philippines Chancellor; and Associate Professor Henelito Sevilla, Jr, PhD, Dean of the UP Asian Center.

The program proper began with a performance of Pansak Kamattoahan. Pansak, the traditional dance label used by the Sama Bangingi, Sama Siasi, and Yakan means “dance,” and Kamattoahan means “classical” or “old-style.” Therefore, Pansak Kamattoahan refers to a classical style of dancing. 

This was followed by Tagnaan ta, the opening number from Sintang Dalisay, the Philippine version of Romeo and Juliet. The performance featured two groups of dancers representing the Kalimuddin (Capulet) clan and the Mustapha (Montague) clan which are the “two households both alike in dignity.”

The third number, Pansak denda Radz, Pansak lella Kiram, Pansak Ag-iring, constituted linked renditions of the solo Pansak for a woman (denda) by Ms Tanjili, a man (lella) by Mr Ignacio, as well as paired dancing of a man and a woman (pansak ag-iring).

The oldest piece in the repertoire was Jesu, choreographed in 2003. This liturgical piece uses the Igal vocabulary and is accompanied by a jazz guitar arrangement of Bach's "Jesus, Joy of Man's Desiring" by Windham Hill Records.

Prof Demetillo, founder of the UP Guitar Orchestra, then performed two classical guitar numbers, Linggisan and Baleleng.

Ms Tanjili and Mr Ignacio then returned on the stage leading groups of female and male dancers, respectively to perform Igal Agbeya'-beya' Denda (by Ms Tanjili's Kumpulan Radz) and Igal Agbeya'-beya' Lella (by Mr Ignacio's Kumpulan Kiram). Agbeya'-beya' means "to do something in synchronicity," something demonstrated in the performance with both the women's and men's groups dancing "in sync" with each other.

The next performance saw Ateneo's new Blue Igal group perform their interpretations of Igal tradition. This was actually the group's inaugural performance, having only recently formed.

Next up, the Novo Concertante Manila chorale, led by Dr Tan, sang four numbers accompanying dance performances. 0 Ina ni Keke, a Minahasan song from North Sulawesi composed by R C Hardjosubroto, expresses a mother’s unconditional love for her daughter. 

Paru-Parong Bukid, composed by National Artist Felipe de Leon Sr, is a comical spoof depicting vain “ladies” – played by male dancers in drag during the show – past their prime. The performance used the fast-paced arrangement by Fabian Obispo Jr and was accompanied by a dance of the balse, an indigenized interpretation of the waltz.

Eres tu is a popular Spanish song composed in 1973 by Juan Carlos Calderon for that year's Eurovision Song Contest of the same year. Originally choreographed for a group, the version performed at Pesta Igal was modified for solo dancing.

Koyu no Tebulul is a children’s song of the T’boli people of Mindanao. The version performed used the arrangement by Eudenice Palaruan and its choreography featured an abrupt raising of the feet called sintak following accentuated parts of the musical piece.

The final performance was of Igal Linggisan, a mimetic dance that portrays linggisan or lesser frigate birds (Fregata ariel) in flight, searching for food, and in playful competition with each other.

In addition, prior to the event, members of the Sama community of San Andres were also given a tour of the Ateneo Art Gallery.

Pesta Igal initially started as a local series that featured participants from the municipalities of Sitangkai and Tawi-Tawi. The event has since grown international adaptation, even featuring delegates from other countries, such as Malaysia and Indonesia. Pesta Igal has bridged musical boundaries between cultures for the past decade.

Pesta Igal will again take front and center in 2024 as it is the main devise for Areté’s restaging of Sintang Dalisay.