During the Spanish regime "La Jota" dances were the most popular dances performed in any social

gathering by the Spanich "Senoritas" and "Caballeros." The Filipinos saw them danced and imitated them. The Jota Moncadena is the interpretation and adaptation by the old people of Moncada, Tarlac. Hence, the dance is named after the place from where it originated. It is a combination of Spanish and Ilocano dance steps and music. The use of bamboo castanets makes the dance lively, gay and delightful. La Jota Moncadea La Jota Moncadea is one of the most famous interpretation and adaptation of the Aragonese Jota dance. People of Moncada, Tarlac, call it rather by a different name: Jota Florana. The Jota Folrana was danced to the Ilocano/Yogad bamboo musical instrument ensemble called tallelet. Dance anthropologist Ramon Obusan said that the Jota Florana was danced to accompany a bereaved family to the burial of a loved one. The high pitched clicking of the bamboo clickers are supposed to represent melancholy wails. The slow portion of the dance is in fact named patay (death) or desmayo (fainting) that is performed to a very slow marcha funebre. The same dance figure is found in another Ilocano dance, the Ti Liday (which in Ilocano means 'sorrow' or grief-stricken') The Jota Moncadea similar to other Filipinized versions of the Spanish jota is literally mixe-up in flavor. The dance combines Spanish and Ilocano dance steps and music.

Dance: La Jota Moncadea. Meaning: Jota honoring Moncada. Dance Culture: Lowland Christian. Place of Origin: Moncada, Tarlac. Ethnolinguistic Group: Ilocano Classification: social Performers: female