Taiwanese Aboriginal Dances Compared to Filipino Aboriginal Dances

I remembered writing about the links between Taiwanese natives and Filipino natives as well as Ifugao OFWs in Taiwan. I'm not a bit surprised about the studies showing the common ancestry of Taiwanese natives and Filipino natives. The brown skin ethnicity is not unique to the Filipino majority. A visit to Taiwan's fabulous Mount Alishan would show a surrounding similar to Banaue Rice Terraces or the Cordillera region.

Above is a video depicting the dance of a song called "高山青 (read in pinyin as Gāo Shān Qīng)". It literally means "High Green Mountain". I guess this is the most-known song. A trivia would be that the song was written for a 1940s Taiwanese film called Happenings in Alishan. If you noticed the dance steps, any Filipino familiar with the native dances of Filipinos might comment, "Wow, the steps are rather similar." These are dances that Taiwanese natives would entertain tourists with.

This is an Ifugao dance called Dinuya. It's not surprising that in a program, the attire worn for an Ifugao dance was used for the Taiwanese tribal dance. The dance steps can be very similar in more than one way. I even want to say that take away the words of Taiwanese tribal dance songs, you may get a very similar beat.

Some of the versions of the song "High Green Mountain" include chanting in an indigenous language as part of the lyrics. It's actually hard to decipher it. It might sound similar to the Hudhud chant of the Ifugao people. Maybe, an Ifugao native would be able to decipher what the indigenous chant in "High Green Mountain" may actually mean. Maybe, I don't need to go to Taiwan but to Nueva Ecija to understand the meaning of those words.

There's also the song "Love Song of Nanuwa". Apparently, the word "Nanuwa" is of aboriginal origin. I heard it means "welcome". I tried to look for a translation online of what Nanuwa means. I had no such luck as the word is apparently native in origin. The word "Nanuwa" also appears in some versions of the Chinese song "High Green Mountain".

Finding a Taiwanese aborigine bamboo dance is anything but surprising. The distance between Taiwan and the Philippines is so close. It's not too surprising to find similar dance steps per country.

This would be a huge challenge. Recently, I want to go to both Nueva Ecija and Mt. Alishan. Not surprisingly, Ali is also a word in the Ifugao language! Alishan when translated into English is still, Alishan. I think Alishan is pretty much another indigenous language. I'm not actually good at languages. However, I still feel interested in digging into history even as I'm no history major.

Right now, this might be building another bridge to acknowledging common Asian ancestry.

Should Vico Sotto Be a Reason to Oppose Constitutional Reform?

It's something when people keep saying, "It's not the constitution that's the problem! It's the people!" The rise of Victor "Vico" Ma. Regis Nubla Sotto can be something. It's a breath of fresh air. People might use Vico (aside from every other candidate they blindly adore like some god or goddess) to resist the need for constitutional reform. Previously, I wrote about whether or not the late Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" C. Aquino III should be a reason not to pursue economic charter change . Now, I'd like to write a post on whether or not Vico should be a reason to reject constitutional reform. I read through The Philippine Star and found an interesting article on Vico. As I read through it, here's something Vico said, and hopefully, he's for constitutional reform: “ Good governance isn’t flashy, but it is the bedrock of progres s. If you build the right systems and lead with integrity, everything else – whether scholarships, ...

Let's Just Admit It: All Forms of Journalism, Have Their BIASES (and Citizens MUST Partake in Fact-Checking)

I confess that I'm no fact-checker or journalist. I wanted to take AB Mass Communications, but I didn't find a better school. Instead, I took BS Business Administration (general) all before the course was declared obsolete. There have been crazy claims online, such as fetus soup from China. I went to China and realized it was a sham. In fact, it turned out to be a sham and that the "fetus soup" pictures were more than what I'd call, a distasteful performance art . I wasn't too happy about ABS-CBN's role in promoting anti-charter change ads. However, I believe that no one is free from biases. Jeff Canoy of ABS-CBN admits a truth we all need to hear: In a forum titled “Campus Patrol,” ABS-CBN News chief of reporters Jeff Canoy said journalists are “biased” as their values protrude from the way they craft their stories, but objectivity would come into play when they verify information . “Actually, all [forms of] journalism [are] biased because the way I wou...

Let's Be Real: Term Limits Cause Political Dynasties to Spiral Out of Control

Inquirer There's always the obsession with political dynasties. There's also the obsession with term limits . Back in the 1990s, I remembered fearing charter change . I was afraid that the late Fidel V. Ramos might become a dictator. The talks that if a president would rule for more than six years--would be considered "frightening" or "nakakatakot" in Tagalog. I wrote an article where I wrote one staggering truth-- a long reign isn't necessarily tyrannical and that a short reign isn't necessarily benevolent . In my discussion, I highlighted both Pol Pot and Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.--both deceased dictators. Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge dictatorship murdered millions in contrast to Marcos' regime. Of course, some people will say Pol Pot would've caused Cambodia to go extinct if he rhad eigned longer. I remember the logic that I was told back in elementary school. I was told that the reason why term limits are imposed is to prevent another Marcos-...

Reflecting on Ninoy Aquino's Words as I Feel ALONE in Promoting Constitutional Reform

As I insist on the need for constitutional reform, I already feel like I'm alone. It's not because I'm in jail (otherwise, I would not be able to type this), but because most of my life, most Filipinos have become the collective tyranny . In fact, one can say, "Are we a democracy or are we an anarchy?" The more I think about the surveys by Pulse Asia, they claim that 88% of Filipinos (but have they truly surveyed everywhere) are supposedly against charter change. This is where the tyranny of the majority kicks in. People may have overthrown the tyranny of Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., but they haven't learned much. Instead, people insist on false myths such as the Marcos Parliamentary Years (which, by the way, is bogus to the core, read why here ). As Benigno Simeon "Ninoy" A. Aquino Jr. said, "We had a parliamentary system, without a parliament. " I felt alone many times when I wanted to change the Philippines. When I went to Singapore for a...

Real Talk: Dancing Campaigns for People to "Vote Wisely", Under the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, is a Waste of Time

Midterm elections are already around the corner. Driving or travelling during election seasons can be annoying. Honestly, why didn't the Philippines go parliamentary? I would ask people on Facebook (but again, I will not mention their names and if I do post their comments, I will block their names and pictures out) what their plan is. Obviously, it can go from "voters' education" to "campaigning for people to vote wisely". Above is a parody of the presidential election last 2010. Yes, it was that time when the late Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" C. Aquino III also ran for president. Noynoy's mother Maria Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino died of cancer. It would be necropolitics all over again. This video made me chuckle because it shows the problem of presidentialism. It's all about how dancing during campaigns. I could imagine if people who insist that "vote wisely is the solution for long term progress"--finally decide to dance to the jingle ...

The Ozone Disco Fiasco Last March 18, 1996

Another 1990s tragedy that I remember hearing about was the Ozone Disco Tragedy . If I were teaching business ethics right now, I would use the Ozone Disco case as a case study. It deserves attention because of how tragic it was. I heard some bodies were never recovered. I watched this episode of the Ozone Disco Tragedy on Case Unclosed . Once again, I'll apologize if the videos I post don't have English subtitles. I may consider finding an application to provide a transcript soon, but that's no guarantee! Pretty much, if you're not a Filipino then just read through the blog entry without watching the video first! I looked into an article from The Flip Science called " Playing with fire: Understanding the Ozone Disco tragedy " which was written by Mikael Angelo Francisco, during the pandemic. The pandemic ceased several social gatherings, that included discos. Back then, I used the Ozone Disco tragedy as a reason to oppose dancing classes. However, dancing...

Are Political Dynasties, Not Presidential's Name Recall System, the Real Problem?

As a person fighting for constitutional reform, I looked at this video by Orion Perez Dumdum. Some people are still relying on the allegations made by a certain fat lady on Facebook. I even got blocked by a certain fat man with glasses. I feel victorious after that fat guy blocked me. I watched this video and thought, "Are political dynasties the problem?" People fuzz over political dynasties. Some people even go as far as to blame political dynasties, not the ridiculous 60-40 equity restriction, as to why FDIs have chosen Vietnam. Yes, Communist Vietnam which is a one-party state . The "next best solution" is what? Ban political dynasties altogether. Whether we like to admit it or not, every family has bad eggs and good eggs . A good king can sire bad sons. A bad king can sire good sons. It's all about upbringing that determines the direction of one's offspring. This would also play a double stnadard. Why did people clamor the late Benigno Simeon "Noy...

30 Years of Flor Contemplacion Crybabies Spreading Fake News

Liza Maza Facebook Page It's 30 years since Flor Contemplacion was executed in Singapore. My memories was how some people felt hatred for Singapore, how we were told that "Filipinos are always oppressed." in both values education and civics classes, and how Flor should be regarded as a heroine. The Buwan Ng Wika program came and Flor's execution was also highlighted in the song "Kuko Ng Agila" (Claws of the Eagle). Flor was always romanticized as innocent, a martyr, and even some decent Filipinos bought it once. However, I soon accepted Flor's execution to be what it is-- Singaporean justice . Some people are still continuing to commemorate Flor--as if she was some kind of Catholic saint or martyr. I could remember rallies year after year, commemorating Flor's "martyrdom". What was also ironic was, at that time, the Vizconde Massacre (read here ) happened and the wrong people were arrested. The public demanded the blood of Hubert Jeffry P....

Learning About Jose Rizal's Chinese Ancestry (and Blood) Back in High School (and College)

JoseRizal.com Today is Rizal Day and I found myself admiring him. I don't have his level of genius. Some people often joked that practiced the Rizal hairstyle. He was only 5.28 feet, which may have been considered tall at that time compared to today's standards. This takes me back in time when my Filipino teacher (forgot her full name) asked, "Do you have to be born a Filipino to be truly Filipino. If we must accept it, Rizal's blood was Chinese." Rizal would be a Chinese mestizo. Look into his history. Rizal's great-great-grandfather was a Chinese immigrant . Those questions forever shook my mind slowly but surely. I'm Chinese by blood but I was born into the Philippines, from Filipino citizen parents, even if my great-grandparents were mostly from China. Concerning Rizal's ancestor, this is an interesting detail: Domingo Lamco: A Beacon of Resilience Domingo Lamco, also known by his Chinese name Cua Yi-Lam (“Ke Yi-Nan” in Mandarin), was a trailblaze...

Indonesian Dance to the Song "Lagu Batuk Tor Tor"

In the quest to study Filipino ancestral heritage, one may point to Taiwan's natives. What can't be ignored are the Indonesians and Malaysians. This dance resembles to the dances from the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The dance patterns are similar yet different to the Pangalay in Mindanao. The more I seek to understand Filipino culture's development--I feel that Tealive should invest next in the Bangsamoro regions. The Bangsamoro region might be the next best bet for a Malaysian tea company after all.

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