CEBU, Philippines - Casa Gorordo Museum's Sinug goes on despite Nang Titang's absence.
Carolina Diola, niece of Cebu's intangible heritage icon Estelita "Nang Titang" Diola, who admitted to be bearing a heavy heart still after the loss of Turang Dance Troupe's leader March last year, shared how "enormous the responsibilities are on her shoulder" now that keeping it alive is passed on to her and to her son, Rommel Borja.
In keeping with the traditions of the Gorordo family and the Parian area, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. Casa Gorordo Museum held the "Sinug sa Casa" last January 20, or the Monday right after the observance of the annual Fiesta Señor.
Happy Feet, authentic beat
Carol, with the 30-member dance troupe started by Nang Titang's father Buenaventura, performed the traditional dance-prayer beginning with the "paso" (march), prayers and offering of the dance wherein various petitions are recited, the story of a battle between Christians and Muslims, the praise and dance, the aviva (abiba) where dancers shout "Pit Senyor" and jump to symbolize physical reaching out to the heavens melding drumbeating and the music, and the reciting of the Alabasyon, a prayer in the form of a poem meant to be sung, for the "panamilit" segment (farewell).
Visitors and media people also got the chance to learn the steps from Carol. For half an hour, the participants experienced the difference between the natural steps and the kinampilan steps: something observed by Nang Titang for decades or according to how she had learned it from her father Turang when she was yet seven years old. The beat and choreography are different from the popular Sinulog street dance seen during the feast of the Holy Child in Cebu every third Sunday of January. The less known Sinug dance has its own fixed format and its own unique beat and steps not present in the Sinulog today, despite the fact that both dances pay homage to the Señor Santo Niño.
The natural step is the popularly known two-steps forward, one-step backward routine, while the kinampilan has one-step right foot forward and one-step backward while the left foot stays in place.
The Sinug does not have a dancing "rayna" who carries the image of the Senyor. Instead, the icon is placed on an altar facing the dancers. The dance narrates the coming of Christianity to the Philippines, the conflict between the locals and the Spaniards and eventual peace between the two forces through the intercession of the Santo Niño.
Nagtudlo. nag-alagad. nagbalaan
An exhibit on Nang Titang Diola opened after the performance, on the second floor of Casa Gorordo Museum's souvenir shop, featuring the habiliments worn by Nang Titang in her lifetime as a Sinug dance and beat keeper.
Four recognitions given to Nang Titang are also on display: the Sugbuanong Laiko Award of the Archdiocese of Cebu Blessed Pedro Calungsod handed over last March 2010; the Philippines Foundation, Inc. Perlas Award for her being a Valuable Filipino by dancing the authentic Sinug with her family and community given last March 2011; a plaque from the City Government of Cebu last 2010 on the occasion of the 30th Sinulog Festival; and a Posthumous Award as Keeper of the Sinug Dance and Beat given last January 20, 2014 in line with the 34th Sinulog fest.
Casa Gorordo Museum is a historic house museum that showcases nineteenth-century Cebuano-Filipino lifestyle. House traditions of the Gorordo family are continued to be celebrated by the museum as part of RAFI's pledge to conserve aspects of local heritage that contribute to Filipino cultural identity.
According to RAFI Culture and Heritage unit executive director Dr. Joy Gerra, the activity is in support to the aims of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
"RAFI believes that the Sinug is an intangible tradition with its own authentic merit," she said. "While Sinug and Sinulog are taken to refer to the same festival, they can mean two different things in dance."