On May 25, 2020, Filipinos celebrated the Eid’l Fitr. This important Islamic holiday commemorates the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Forty eight years ago, on November 1971, Ethnomusicological Survey of the Philippines project research assistant Efren Alawi documented celebrations of Eid’l Fitr or Hari Raya Puasa in Sulu. He recorded a pangallay performance in a program in Plaza Tulay in Jolo, Sulu on November 21, 1971.
The following day, Alawi went to Bagsak Asibih, Parang, Sulu when he was informed that a dalling-dalling performance will be held. The place is approximately 6 kilometers away from the poblacion of Parang, and he had to hire a jeepney to take him there.
In the November 23 entry on his field logbook, Alawi wrote:
“The dalling-dalling performance started at past eleven pm. There were 12 dancers – 6 were females and 6 males. Six of them came from Tabawan Island and 6 of them were from all over Jolo mainland”
“They sang as they dances – went around the stage (that was why their voices can be hardly heard in the tape)… The performers danced 5 at a time (2 played the “music” –a bamboo pole struck w/ 4 pieces of bamboo sticks) 3 females & 2 males”
Dalling-dalling dance. Two men sitting on their legs on the floor each hands with a stick beating a bamboo pole, accompaning the dalling-dalling dancers. Photo from Efren Alawi’s Tausug research in 1971.
He also noted that there was a wedding that took place on November 24. The performance of dalling-dalling was in connection with the week-long celebration of the Hari Raya and the wedding.
Listen to an excerpt of the the dalling-dalling performance recorded by Alawi in Bagsak Asibih, Parang, Sulu.
Visit the UPCE Library and Archives or email us at upethno_archive.upd@up.edu.ph to read and listen to Mr. Alawi’s field research in Jolo.
References:
1) ABS-CBN News. “Duterte Declares May 25 a Holiday for Eid’l Fitr.” ABS-CBN News, May 19, 2020. https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/19/20/duterte-declares-may-25-a-holiday-for-eidl-fitr
2) Alawi, Efren. Handwritten daily logbook with pictures. 1971. Ts 26 to 39 71 (Sml 14 71), UPCE-F-505. Jose Maceda Collection. University of the Philippines Center for Ethnomusicology, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.
3) Alawi, Efren. Handwritten tape notes and contents. 1971. Ts 26 to 39 71 (Sml 14 71), UPCE-F-506. Jose Maceda Collection. University of the Philippines Center for Ethnomusicology, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.
