Binasuan
From its origin in the Province of Pangasinan, the name of the Binasuan dance translates into the fitting phrase, "with the use of drinking glasses".
This vibrant dance shows off the complicated balancing skills of the female performers involved, which strongly relies on proper posture and form.
Glasses filled with rice wine are placed on the head and hands of the dancers, who carefully maneuver them with graceful movements.
This beautiful dance is commonly seen at weddings, fiestas, and other special occasions in the Philippines.
Lumagen
The mountainous Central Cordillera region of Northern Luzon is also known by the term "Philippine Skyland".
Inhabiting this rugged terrain are six ethno-linguistic tribes known as the Ibaloy, Kankanay, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, and Bontoc.
Lumagen is a traditional tribal dance performed at Kalinga festivals to celebrate Thanksgiving in the events of a good harvest, the birth of a first-born child, victories in battle, as well as marriages.
While the complex step patterns and formations of Lumagen make it one of the more strenuous dances to perform, its high level of energy makes it one of the most worthwhile to watch onstage.
Maglalatik
During the extended period of Spanish colonial rule of the Philippines, Maglalatik was originally performed in Binan, Laguna as a mock-war dance to demonstrate the fight between the Moros and the Christians over the prized latik, or coconut meat.
Nowadays, the dance is most often performed as a part of religious processions as an offering to the town's patron saint of farmers, San Isidro de Labrador.
Tinikling
Due to its immense popularity, Tinikling is widely recognized as the national dance of the Philippines.
Dancers mimic the legendarily fast and graceful movements of tikling birds as the dodged bamboo traps set by rice farmers.
Its exciting beat and rapid footwork always keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
Singkil
Singkil is an intricate, yet beautiful traditional Muslim dance of the Philippines.
Based on the Maguindanao interprestation of an ancient Indian story, a princess and her trusted servant must gracefully move their feet in and out of the bamboo sticks, which represent trees falling in the midst of an earthquake.
Interestingly, the dance is said to have taken its name from the chiming bells of the fine anklets worm by the princess. In the end, a prince comes to the princess' rescue, bringing the dance to a suspenseful and dramatic finale.
PASUpella
PASUpella is the Pilipino American Student Union's impromptu a cappella musical group brought together by a passion for music, singing, and performance.
At least once a quarter, the group performs at special events hosted by PASU.
From accompanying a traditional Simbang Gabi mass with English and Tagalog Christmas hymns to singing the beautiful Dahil Sa Iyo at out Bataan Vigil last year, PASUpella has a range of performances in its repertoire.
PASUpella's music is arranged by its own members, and provides a creative outlet for the expressiveness and artistry embodied by Filipino culture.