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1. Sayaw
In Leon, Bobon, a small municipality in the Visayas region, blade fighting is
considered a living art. Famous for its blade culture, way back colonial times, local folksin
this area prefer knives than guns. Carrying bladed weapons such as itak, bolo or ginunting
are common scenarios. It is also in this area where the well-known Sayaw came, the
traditional dance usedaswordcalled“ginunting”and usually performedinceremoniessuch
as funerals, fiestas, baptisms, and weddings.The dance has been passed to relativesand
families of those who perform it through words of mouth and actions.
The Dancers
Sayawwas performedbygroupsof menmade up of at leastthree to tenpairs.The performers
of “Sayaw”were exclusivetomenbecause ofthe dangerousexecutioninthe fightingscene. Thedancers
performthe “Sayaw"before the processioncomes fromthe house of the bride tothe church and from
the churchtothe house tobe metbythemanugsayaw whoperformaroundthevenueof thecelebration
after coming out from the church.
Props and Costume

2. Ginunting

4. Distinct movement
The distinctmovementsof sayaw are intendedtoimpressthe audience withthe greatskillof
hitting and slashing each other. In their hands there is a bladed weapon called ‘ginunting’.
Theirstepswere differentfromeachotherdepictingcombatingmovementsincludeeskrima,
step-hop, turn around, fell down and roll on the ground.
Eskrima is the most commonmovementinsayaw.Itshowsthe exchange slashingandhitting
of the sword with the partner.
Figure 11. The eskrimahay

5. Figure 12. Turn around ina back to back positionwiththe partner,handsabove the head in a cross-arm
position.

6. Figure 13. Step-hop is the movement performed while traveling to look for another partner.

7. Figure 14. fell down and roll around is considered as distinct movement of sayaw.
Music notaion