4. Introduction
.The Ibaloi (Nabaloi) and Kankanaey
are indigenous ethnic groups found
in mountains of the Cordillera
Central on the island of Luzon.
There are approximately 55,000
Ibaloi, most of them can be found in
the southern part of the province
of Benguet.
5. The Kankanaey live in western
Mountain Province, northern
Benguet and southeastern Ilocos
Sur.
Both groups perform the ceremony
called the Bendian.
6. Bendian festival celebrated by the
Ibaloi and Kankanaey is always big
and extraordinary.
It involves the village circling and
dancing around the ulul leader while
executing various arm movements.
7. Lasting until the wee hours of the
night, the bedian ritual ends on the
sound of the loudest oway or war
cry.
This version of Bendian centers
around the maiden's part of the
circle.
8. Bendian is performed for many
reasons.
Some of which are to heal a prolong
illness, relieve natural calamities
such as famine and drought, and to
celebrate a bountiful harvest.
9. However, in the past the biggest
Bendian was to celebrate a victory
in war and a successful headhunt.
Nowadays the festival is held for
important festive occasions.
10. Etymology
Bendian, Bendaan or Bendayan
literally translates to “ let’s see who
gets tired first” is a circle dance “to
celebrate a victory”
11. Dance Properties
Dance Culture – Highland Cordillera
Place of Origin – Benguet
Ethnolinguistic Group – Ibaloi and
Kankanaey
Classification - Festival
14. Music – Ganza (flat
gong), sulibao
(drum), takik
(triangle steel bar)
and bunkaka
(bamboo buzzer)
Time Signature – 2/4
15. Costume
Kambal – long sleeved jacket of abel
Iloko (Ilocano weave) with broad
stripes of blood red, bottle green,
blue, black and white accented with
strips of checkered cloth
Aken (Divet) – knee-length wrap-
around skirt of the same material as
the jacket.
16. Donas – cloth belt to secure the skirt
on the waist
Headband of abel Iloko
Akon – coin necklace/or seed bead
necklace; tabing – gold earrings;
anas – bracelet, complete the attire
17.
18. Basic Steps
Step on ball of L and brush-kick R
obliquely backward right (ct. 1)
Feet together (ct. and)
Repeat (ct. 2 and)
Heavy walk
20. Djinungluan (watch over) – arms
raided obliquely forward upward,
palms down
Dimbabaw (display and observe) –
arms stretched laterally, palms
down
Kinetangan (satisfaction) – hands in
alms position
21. Pinaposan – palms facing front over
chest
Inabaya – Open palms stiffly placed
behind butt, flipped outwards and
inwards like a bird’s tail
Kiniyakan (dig) – like alms position
but both hands directed to one side
24. Figure 3 –
8M – Diagonal arms (R obliquely
upward R), brush kick turning R in
place
8M – reverse arm position; turn L
25. Figure 4 –
Facing center of circle
4M – Djinungluan; brush kick
4M –Turn right about; repeat
8M – Repeat
26. Figure 5 –8M –
R stretched obliquely forward
upward; L on waist; brush kick,
move CW
8M – Reverse arm position; move
CCW
End in two columns