Pandanggo is a Philippine folk dance which has become popular in the

rural areas of the Philippines. The dance evolved from Fandango,

a Spanish folk dance, which arrived in the Philippines during the Hispanic
period. This dance, together with the Jota, became popular among
the illustrados or the upper class and later adapted among the local
communities. In the early 18th century, any dance that is considered jovial and
lively was called Pandanggo.
There are many versions of this dance and each locality has its own
version. Local dancers have many ways of doing the Pandanggo, but there is
one thing in common between different versions: they have gay and sprightly
figures. It may be danced at any social gathering and is usually accompanied
by clapping. In some places, the musicians do not stop playing until four to five
couples have danced, one after the other. When one couple tires, another takes
its place until there are no more who want to dance. The musicians play faster
and faster after each repetition until the dancers are exhausted.
Two of the most popular versions of Pandanggo, as a performing art, are
the Pandanggo sa Ilaw from Mindoro, and Oasioas. Another Philippine folk
dance, Cariosa, has Pandanggo as its base dance. Pandanggo is still danced
by many people but mostly in religious rituals and processions such as the
Pandangguhan sa Pasig, during the procession of St. Martha, and the Sayaw
sa Obando. While Fandango in Spain was superseded by its modern version,
the Flamenco, it has evolved into a popular folk dance, and as a ritual dance in
many religious processions in the Philippines.
The word "pandanggo" is derived from the Spanish word "fandango,"
which is also a popular dance in Portugal. Similar to the original fandango folk
dance, Pandanggo sa Ilaw requires excellent balance and incorporates
clapping and lively steps danced in a three-fourths beat. The light refers to three
oil lamps that the women dancers balance on the head and at the back of each
hand. Candles in clear glasses have long replaced the oil lamps. Pandanggo
sa Ilaw is usually danced in couples, with both the women and men wearing
traditional dresses.

Pandanggo sa Ilaw simulates the light and flight of fireflies at dusk or

dawn. It depicts the courtship of a young man to a maiden that captured his
interest. In Lingayen, Pangasinan, Pandanggo sa Ilaw is called "Oasiwas," or
swinging. Colonel Antonio R. Buenaventura, a National Artist and a professor
at the Conservatory of Music in the University of the Philippines, composed the
music that accompanies the Pandanggo sa Ilaw dance