The Pandang – Gitab is a lively street-dancing, adapting the basic steps and music of the original Pandanggo sa Ilaw.
It is believed that the dance Pandanggo sa Ilaw was inspired by the practice of “send – off” to the fishermen going out to the sea for fishing in the cold hours of the morning. As it is still dark then, they usually bring lamps to their way. This same practice is the one that greets the weary fishermen upon their return either in the evening of the same day, or perhaps on the next day, depending on the reach of their fishing travels.
This stylized version of the dance still follow the traditional “ sway-and-balance” movement, with graceful shallow gyrating of hips and torso, complemented with a side-to-side swing of hands, careful not to drop the candle-on-glass on the head of the dancer. However, to make it different from the original dance, performers were allowed modify some dance moves and styles, and to use props and other materials for added attraction.
“The Festival of Lights aims to promote and instill to the youth the rich cultural heritage of the province of Oriental Mindoro; Develop a unique festival that will entice local and foreign tourists to visit Oriental Mindoro; Develop the talents and artistic abilities of Mindoreños especially in the field of dancing and; Encourage community participation in the celebration of the province’s founding anniversary” cited Orlando Batanes Tizon, Senior Tourism Operation Officer
Last November 14, 2009, the streets of Calapan City was filled with people, both locals and tourists, young and old alike, patiently waiting to witness a spectacle of dancers as the town coincide the Pandang-Gitab Oriental Mindoro 2009 with the province’s 59th Founding Anniversary Celebration. The night was wonderful providing a bright sky and a clear moon to help light the streets as the students from 7 schools parade and dance in their colorful costumes and lighted candles placed on their head and hands.
Each group graced the streets of Calapan city not minding the heat of the candles in their hands or the sweat on their forehead. Big warm smiles fill their young faces as they grace and dance their way to the high school grounds for their main performance.
One by one, the groups carry on their dance routines to awe the audiences and judges alike. Pandang-Gitab Oriental Mindoro was introduced as a street dancing competition in November 2001 as part of the province ‘s 52nd Founding Anniversary Celebration and it’s been the city’s highlight since then.
To date, the Pandang Gitab Oriental Mindoro, the Festival of Lights is open to all tertiary and secondary level students and community based organizations in the province. However, the Organizing Committee is seriously studying the possibility of organizing an open entry competition in coming years.
The festival is just one of the reasons why visiting Oriental Mindoro. The province is very rich in natural resources that centainly attracts a number of tourists from all over. “Oriental Mindoro is a growing eco-tourism destination and we have lots to offer. Aside from our popular Puerto Gallera, we also have a white fine sand beach in Bulalacao, the Naujan Lake in Socorro that has 10,000 hectares of water and various festivals that are celebrated all year round in different cities of the province.” Citer Governor ArnanC. Panaligan. “We invite you to come and visit Oriental Mindoro.” He added.
Oriental Mindoro is very near and accessible via south Luzon expressway and the Batangas pier if you are coming from Manila, and thru the port of Roxas or Caticlan if you will be coming from the Visayas region.
