Cariñosa (Spanish pronunciation: [kaɾiˈɲosa], meaning the loving or affectionate one) is a Philippine

dance of colonial era origin from the Maria Clara suite of Philippine folk dances, where the fan or
handkerchief plays an instrumental role as it places the couple in romance scenario

History

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The dance originated in Panay Island in the Visayan Islands and was introduced by the Spaniards during
their colonization of the Philippines. It is related to some of the Spanish dances like the bolero and the
Mexican dance Jarabe Tapatio or the Mexican Hat Dance

Costume

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Originally, the Cariñosa was danced with Maria Clara dress and Barong Tagalog for it is a Maria Clara
Spanish Dance when it was introduced. In addition, Filipino wore the patadyong kimona and camisa de
chino to reveal nationalism. (a native dress of the Tagalog regions), camisa (a white sleeve) or patadyong
kimona (a dress of the Visayan of people) and for boys, a barong Tagalog and colored pants. Because it is
the national dance, the dancers may wear any Filipino costumes.

barong tagalog

The Barong Tagalog, more commonly known as simply barong (and occasionally called baro), is an
embroidered formal shirt and considered the national dress of the Philippines. It is lightweight and worn
untucked over an undershirt. The Barong Tagalog was popularized as formal wear by President Ramón
Magsaysay, who wore it to most private and state functions, including his own inauguration.

In Filipino culture it is a common formal attire, especially at weddings. Less formal variants are used in
schools, universities and offices. Occasionally a feminized version is worn by women, either as an
egalitarian or haute couture fashion statement, or as a form of power dressing when worn by female
politicians such as Corazon Aquino during her presidency.[1] Baro't saya is the feminine equivalent of
barong with the Maria Clara gown being the most popular variant of baro't saya.[2] Barong and baro't
saya are traditionally made up of piña, although some experimental styles also exist.

History

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Pre-Colonial Era
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In the Classical Epoch (900-1521) of recorded history, the Tagalogs of Luzon wore a forerunner of the
Barong Tagalog - the Baro.[3] Earliest reference to the Baro was in the historical account of Ma-i, a pre-
colonial ancient sovereign state in the Philippines believed to have been on the island of Mindoro (but
recent scholarship suggest that historical descriptions better match Bay, Laguna) that the Filipinos wore a
sleeve-doublet of rough cotton cloth called kanga, reaching slightly below the waist. It was collarless and
had an opening in front. The doublets indicated the social status and badge of courage of a man, red was
for the chiefs and the bravest, black and white for the ordinary citizen. Among the Visayan people, the
barong mahaba was a robe worn by men of status, that reached the ankles, and was worn over a bahag.

Spanish Colonial Era

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Like other traditional clothes, the style of the Barong Tagalog and the accessories worn with it spoke of
the status of the person wearing it. Men of middle or upper class would wear it with their leather shoes
and bowler hat. The Ilustrados wore abaca-made Baro with plain collar, half open chest and pleated back
design. Some wore it with ordinary shoes, trousers and a hat.

The Baro was originally worn alone. Later it became customary to wear it over a Camisa de Chino, a
plain, short-sleeved white shirt. The lower class wore coloured Camisa de Chino with loose pants and
slippers which is still a practice in the countryside.[4]

There is an unsubstantiated legend that the Spanish colonizers forced the natives to wear their baro with
the shirt tails hanging out to distinguish them from the ruling class; its translucent fabric allegedly
showing that the wearer was not concealing a weapon underneath,[5] though there is no historical basis
for this. Historians have noted the absence of any specific law or decree which banned the tucking in of
men's shirts.[citation needed] They also note that Pre-Hispanic Filipinos already wore untucked shirts,
something common in tropical climates where temperatures and humidity are high. An untucked style of
shirt was very common in South- and Southeast Asian countries, and the use of thin, translucent fabric
developed naturally given the heat and humidity of the Philippines. Also, native Filipinos during the
colonial era wore their shirts tucked at times,[citation needed] for example José Rizal and his
contemporaries were often photographed in Western clothing with their shirts naturally tucked in.