On March 9, 1899, Francisca Reyes-Aquino, the country's pioneer researcher on traditional Philippine folk dances and music and

known as the
mother Philippine folk dancing, was born in Lolomboy, Bocaue, Bulacan.

Every summer, she would go to the remotest barrios in the provinces, gathering her material directly from the old natives who used to sing and
dance during their younger years. While she studied the dance steps and movements, Buenaventura recorded the folk music and Tolentino took
still and moving pictures. Most of the old folks were willing and eager to dance before the visitors, but some had to be bribed with food or money
before they would agree to perform. Just to be able to contact probable sources, she sometimes had to go up the mountains on horseback, or
cross-rivers and streams. Once, the members of the research team almost lost their lives when their banca was tossed by strong, heavy waves
in the open sea.

In her researches, Aquino was able to gather about 50 basic steps and 200 folk dances of various modes and colors. She discovered that people
living near the sea had dances about fishing and rowing, those in the coconut regions performed dances using coconut shells, and those in rice-
producing provinces had dances depicting various stages of planting and harvesting rice. She also observed that the natives in economically self-
sufficient areas had gay and livelihood dances, while those in places where livelihood was hard, dances were sad, slow and even mournful.

The Itik-Itik
The best description of the Itik-Itik is that the steps mimic the way a duck walks, as well as the way it splashes water on its back to attract a mate.
According to popular tradition, the dance was created by a lady named Kanang who choreographed the steps while dancing at a baptismal party.
The other guests copied her movements, and everyone liked the dance so much that it has been passed along ever since.

The Tinikling
The Tinikling is considered by many to be the Philippines' national dance. The dance's movements imitate the movement of the tikling bird as it
walks around through tall grass and between tree branches. People perform the dance using bamboo poles. The dance is composed of three
basic steps which include singles, doubles and hops. It looks similar to playing jump rope, except that the dancers perform the steps around and
between the bamboo poles, and the dance becomes faster until someone makes a mistake and the next set of dancers takes a turn.

The Sayaw sa Bangko

The Sayaw sa Bangko is performed on top of a narrow bench. Dancers need good balance as they go through a series of movements that include
some impressive acrobatics. This dance traces its roots back to the areas of Pangapisan, Lingayen and Pangasinan.

The Pandanggo sa Ilaw

The Pandanggo sa Ilaw is similar to a Spanish Fandango, but the Pandanggo is performed while balancing three oil lamps - one on the head, and
one in each hand. It's a lively dance that originated on Lubang Island. The music is in 3/4 time and is usually accompanied by castanets.

The Maglalatik
The Maglalatik is a mock war dance that depicts a fight over coconut meat, a highly-prized food. The dance is broken into four parts: two devoted
to the battle and two devoted to reconciling. The men of the dance wear coconut shells as part of their costumes, and they slap them in rhythm
with the music. The Maglalatik is danced in the religious procession during the fiesta of Biñan as an offering to San Isidro de Labrador, the patron
saint of farmers.

The Kuratsa
The Kuratsa is described as a dance of courtship and is often performed at weddings and other social occasions. The dance has three parts. The
couple first performs a waltz. In the second part, the music sets a faster pace as the man pursues the woman around the dance floor in a chase.
To finish, the music becomes even faster as the man wins over the woman with his mating dance.

The Cariñosa
The Cariñosa is a dance made for flirting! Dancers make a number of flirtatious movements as they hide behind fans or handkerchiefs and peek
out at one another. The essence of the dance is the courtship between two sweethearts.

The Surtido
Surtido literally means "assortment," and this square dance combines influences of French, Spanish and Mexican dance. Traditionally
the Surtido is performed by a head couple accompanied by two other couples who lead all the dancers through various formations that resemble
an old-fashioned quadrille.

The Singkil
The Singkil is a dance traditionally performed by single women to attract the attention of potential suitors. Dancers perform a series of graceful
movements as they step in and out from between bamboo poles which are rhythmically clapped together. Fans and scarves are often used to
enhance the dancers' movements.