Pandanggo dance evolved from Fandango, a Spanish folk dance, which arrived in the Philippines during the Hispanic period. This dance, together with the Jota, became popular among the illustrados or the upper class and later adapted among the local communities. In the early 18th century, any dance that is considered jovial and lively was called Pandanggo. Ultimately, it has become popular also in the rural areas. There are many versions of this dance and each locality has its own version, but there is one thing in common between different versions: they have gay and sprightly figures.
It may be danced at any social gathering and is usually accompanied by clapping. In some places, the musicians do not stop playing until four to five couples have danced, one after the other. When one couple tires, another takes its place until there are no more who want to dance. The musicians play faster and faster after each repetition until the dancers are exhausted. Women usually wear Filipiniana Dress, an official gown in the Philippines, and the men should wear a pants and Kamisa Chino (a plain long sleeve upper dress for male).
One of the most popular versions is the Pandanggo sa Ilaw from Mindoro. "Sa ilaw" is Tagalog for "in light" and it refers to the three oil lamps (tinghoy) that a dancer has to balance - one on the head and one on the back each hand. Sometimes, candles in glasses are used instead of an oil lamp. The music to which the pandanggo sa ilaw is now commonly danced was composed by Colonel Antonio R. Buenaventura, a National Artist for Music and a native of Bulacan. He wrote the music sometime in the early 1930's while teaching at the Conservatory of Music at the University of the Philippines.
About the stamps
The first stamps is part of a huge set of definitive stamps, Marine Biodiversity, about which I wrote here. The second stamp is part of the series United Nations 60th Anniversary, and International Year of Sports and Physical Education, about which I wrote here.
References
Pandanggo - Wikipedia
Sender: Cherry Ruiz
Sent from ??? (??? / Philippines), on 03.03.2014
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