Volume 1| Issue 1| August, 2021 ISSN: 2795-739X

Cuyunon’s Familiarity of Traditional

Folksongs and Dances: Its Educational
and Sociological Significance

David R. Perez, Republic of the Philippines

Western Philippines University
Josephine M. Salmo, Republic of the Philippines
Western Philippines University
Susana P. Egger, Republic of the Philippines
Western Philippines University
Romelyn T. Dacanay, Republic of the Philippines
Western Philippines University
Lloyd Bancairen Republic of the Philippines
Western Philippines University
Ferdinand C. Gelbolingo, Republic of the Philippines
Western Philippines University
The main purpose of the study is to determine the familiarity of the Cuyunons of today if
they could still remember the traditional folksongs and dances of the municipality of
Cuyo, Palawan. The study will also look into the educational and sociological
significance of familiarity of these folksong and dances for the purpose of cultural
revival, preservation and propagation of the Cuyonons’ rich culture.
Descriptive research design was used in this study. Semi-structured researcher-made
questionnaire was used in this study to gather data. The study was conducted in
ABSTRACT

northern municipalities of Palawan which are dominated by Cuyunon natives. Samples

were selected purposively by means of snowball method. Data collected were tallied and
analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, mean, and percentage.
Majority of the respondents are aged 23-32 years old, female, single, at least high school
graduate, government employee and full-blooded Cuyunon.
Most of the respondents are still familiar with the Cuyunon folk songs and dances. These
songs and dances should continue to be passed to next generation in order to revive and
sustain our cultural heritage. The songs and dances which are not familiar to the young
ones must be revived and continuously promoted to be familiarized by the young
generation. These songs and dances are one of the symbols of the cultural heritage of
the Cuyunon that must be treasured and lived always.
Cuyuno Folk songs, Folk dances, Familiarity, Educational and
Keywords:
Sociological Significance

Introduction Folksongs like dances, paintings,

The increasing encroachment of legends, and epics are part of the Filipino
technology and industrialization on folk culture. A folksong is a traditional song from a
traditions of the world has given great impact particular region or place that is handed over
to the struggle for their preservation and from generations to generations (Cambridge
continuity. Dictionary, 2020).

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 Volume 1| Issue 1| August, 2021 ISSN: 2795-739X
Philippines has two distinct repertoires questionnaire was used in this study to gather
expressed in oral traditions. The first, in data. The study was conducted in northern
musical forms that evolved from Southeast municipalities of Palawan which are dominated
Asian cultures, usually referred to as by Cuyunon natives. Samples were selected
indigenous traditions. Second, are musical purposively by means of snowball method.
forms that developed in rural Christian Data collected were tallied and analyzed using
communities. More commonly known as folk descriptive statistics such as frequency counts,
music. They may be further categorized into mean, and percentage.
vocal, instrumental, a combination of both, as
well as forms that integrates these elements Result and Discussion
with physical movement, space, dance and The result shows the data about the
theater (Santos, 2007). demographic profile of the respondents.
. Palawan has different indigenous Majority of the respondents has age ranges
people’s groups consists of Cuyunon, from 23-32 years old, followed by 43-57 years
Tagbanua, Palaw’an, Agutaynen, Batak, and old and 33-42 years old. This means that all of
Molbog. Among these group, the Cuyunon tribe the respondents are on their legal age during
dominates the whole province since both pure- the conduct of this research.
blooded Cuyunon and half-blooded Cuyunon Majority or 78.95% of the respondents
was made to transfer its culture to its are female, while the rest are male. This implies
succeeding generations. that female respondents are fond of listening to
In addition to, the municipality of Cuyo Cuyunon folksongs and dances.
was once the capital of the province way back As to the civil status, since most of the
Spaniards colonized the province. Moreover, respondents are considered as young, they
most of the northern municipalities and even more mostly single, followed by the married
the old families in Puerto Princesa are ones. In terms of highest educational
Cuyunon-speaking people. attainment, most of the respondents are high
The sayaw in Cuyunon, marked its school graduate followed by masters’ graduate
movements which are graceful, and the music and college graduate. This implies that all of
is touching and exotic. The Cuyunons dance in a the respondents are literate and has the
joyful movement called pondo-pondo, with the capability to familiarize the Cuyunon songs and
accompaniment of aguitar, a drum and a tipano dances.
– a Cuyunon flute. They also sing and recite In terms of employment, majority of the
bersos. (Tabago) Folk songs are one of the respondents are government employees. This
cherished cultural possessions of the Cuyuno implies that majority of the respondents
people. It is a means of expressing the people’s preferred to be public servants by securing job
faith, joys, sorrows, hopes and aspirations. in government service.
(Fernandez,FT, Legazpi, EIF) As to ethnicity, majority of the
This paper seeks to determine the level respondents are full-blooded Cuyunon and the
of familiarity of the Cuyunons of today if they rest are half-blooded Cuyunon. This could be
could still remember the traditional folksongs attributed to their familiarity of Cuyunon songs
and dances of the municipality of Cuyo. The and dances.
study will also look into the educational and It can be gleaned in the table below that
sociological significance of familiarity of these “Guegmang Baitlan and Daraga” are the
folksong and dances for the purpose of cultural Cuyunon songs that topped the survey.
revival, preservation and propagation of the According to the respondents these two are the
Cuyonons’ rich culture. most familiar songs that they remember. Some
even sang these songs during the interview.
Methods The song “Solteros” landed third as it gained its
Descriptive research design was used in familiarity on festivities and even on field
this study. Semi-structured researcher-made demonstrations and street dancing

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 Volume 1| Issue 1| August, 2021 ISSN: 2795-739X
competitions. T was followed by Kamarikutan, According to Fernandez and Legazpi,
King-king and the famous Toting and more. On the Cuyuno folk songs were categorized into:
the other hand, the songs “Ag Silabog and songs children love to sing, occupational songs,
Agsareg Ako,” were not familiar to the love songs, songs for wakes and vigils, and
respondents. songs for fiestas.

Table 1. Familiarity of the Respondents on Cuyunon Folksongs

Songs Mean Descriptive Interpretation
Guegmang Batilan 2.63 Very familiar
Daraga 2.53 Very familiar
Solteros 2.47 Familiar
Kamarikutan 2.42 Familiar
King-King 2.42 Familiar
Toting 2.42 Familiar
Consimisyon 2.37 Familiar
Layang Pasyak 2.37 Familiar
Capupuroan 2.32 Familiar
Taringting 2.26 Familiar
Daragang Nanay 2.16 Familiar
Madanleg ang Dalan Palangga 2.16 Familiar
Bulan 2.05 Familiar
Carmilita 2.05 Familiar
Ploning Adin ka Ren 2.05 Familiar
Guegma ko Kanimo 2 Familiar
Isdang Lunawan 2 Familiar
Mangitngit Buli 2 Familiar
Sirak 2 Familiar
Sulo 2 Familiar
Ang Saya-saya 1.95 Familiar
Botigen 1.95 Familiar
Latong Cuyo 1.95 Familiar
Tugoti 1.95 Familiar
Balay-balay 1.89 Familiar
Bunga ng Kalibutan 1.89 Familiar
Istoria Lamang 1.89 Familiar
Mariguen 1.89 Familiar
Sa Matambek o Maniwang 1.89 Familiar
Sayaw sa Cuyo 1.89 Familiar
Amos Tangay Tangway 1.84 Familiar
Ara Atabo 1.84 Familiar
Aserang 1.84 Familiar
Petrano 1.84 Familiar
Sekretong guegma 1.84 Familiar
Telegrama 1.84 Familiar
Tiis manong pido 1.84 Familiar
Aqueng guegma indi Ag Oman 1.79 Familiar

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 Volume 1| Issue 1| August, 2021 ISSN: 2795-739X
Bisara Y Lola 1.79 Familiar
Maling Dalan 1.79 Familiar
Pagkon den lamang 1.79 Familiar
Panyo sa bato 1.79 Familiar
Ploning 1.79 Familiar
tinipanan 1.79 Familiar
Cababaga 1.74 Familiar
Indong Tio 1.74 Familiar
Medio Kano Lamang 1.74 Familiar
Batang Maete 1.68 Familiar
Beri-beri 1.68 Familiar
Lailo Ka Ra Bata 1.68 Familiar
tibor-tibor 1.68 Familiar
Ata ate sa Bukid 1.63 Familiar
Sentimento ni Palangga 1.63 Familiar
Siloy 1.63 Familiar
Tuba ni Lolong Leloy 1.63 Familiar
Sa Maraying lugar 1.58 Familiar
Ag Silabong 1.47 Not Familiar
Agsareg Ako 1.47 Not Familiar
Legend: 2.51-3.0 – Very familiar
1.51-2.50 – Familiar
1.0 – 1.50 – Not Familiar

Table 2 below shows that the festival Further, Palawan indigenous dances
dance “Karatong” and the song of the bachelors have different purposes like in rituals. The
“Solteros” are the very familiar Cuyunon Tagbanuas of Palawan performed dances
dances as perceived by the respondents. needed for seven rituals. Some of these rituals
Perhaps it can be attributed that the are for healing, communicating to dead
respondents are mostly teachers and these ancestors, wedding, death and some to
dances are encouraged to be taught in schools communicate with nature and entertainment
and local festivities. Other dances are familiar or recreation. It is further recommended that
to the respondents while the song “Paglikas sa these dances must be passed to the next
Cuyo” are not familiar to the respondents. generation and be the basis for instructional
materials preparation for teaching dances in
schools (Perez DR, dela Rosa, L 2015).

Table 2. Familiarity of the Respondents on Cuyunon Folkdances

Folk Dances Mean Descriptive Interpretation
Karatong 2.89 Very familiar
Solteros 2.79 Very familiar
Toting 2.47 Familiar
Lanceros de Cuyo 2.47 Familiar
La Jota de Paragua 2.42 Familiar
Mazurka de Cuyo 2.42 Familiar

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 Volume 1| Issue 1| August, 2021 ISSN: 2795-739X
King King 2.37 Familiar
Pondo-pondo 2.32 Familiar
Layang Pasyak 2.16 Familiar
Siloy 1.89 Familiar
Sayaw sa Cuyo 1.79 Familiar
Ati ati ang Cuyunon 1.74 Familiar
Pista Y ang Cuyunon 1.68 Familiar
Pastoris 1.68 Familiar
Pandanggo sa Baybay 1.58 Familiar
Virginia 1.58 Familiar
Paglikas sa Cuyo 1.26 Not Familiar

Sociological and educational significance of order to revive and sustain our cultural
Cuyunons folk songs and Dances heritage. The songs and dances which are not
Music can move people, through music familiar to the young ones must be revived and
it can move deeply, members of communities continuously promoted to be familiarized by
around the world use music to create cultural the young generation. These songs and dances
identity of others, to create unity and to are one of the symbols of the cultural heritage
dissolve it. of the Cuyunon that must be treasured and
Cultural Dance played an important role lived always.
in a particular society, this is one way of telling
Recommendations:
people on what are the things they need to
Should organize cultural association of
know about their own culture. It is also the
cultural organization and conduct seminar-
way that other people could have respect,
workshop, cultural shows, and competition to
knowledge and give importance to the
preserve cuyunon traditional and songs as part
traditions and norms.
of their cultural promotion;
A culture’s value is embodied in its
1. Encourage integration of traditional
dance forms, and for most civilizations of the
folk songs and dances in the MAPEH and
world, dance is one of most important
Araling Panlipunan curriculum; and
expressions of their world-view.
2. Encourage Further studies on other
The significance of understanding folk
aspect of preferred familiarity of
song and dances among Cuyunons history and
Cuyonons’ to their traditional dances
culture can be told through folk songs and
and song.
dances are not only cultural artifacts, but also
communicative manifestations of one’s cultural
References
identity. The most interesting implications for
1. Tony Craig et al.2012. The influences of
cultural identities through social
Actual Perceive Familiarity on
consciousness.
Environmental Preferences. Retrieve
from www.hindawi.com, December 11,
Conclusion
2020
Majority of the respondents are aged
2. Michael H. San Miguel. 2019.
23-32 years old, female, single, at least high
Preservation of Philippine Folk
school graduate, government employee and
Performing Arts of Public Junior High
full-blooded Cuyunon.
School Teacher. Retrieve from
Most of the respondents are still
www.ijriar.com, December 11, 2020.
familiar with the Cuyunon folk songs and
3. Santos, R. P. (2007). Traditional forms
dances. These songs and dances should
of music
continue to be passed to next generation in

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