I liked that video, Hazel. Very upbeat.
Its very interesting reading about the war dances of the Visayas--and in my side research (for fun ra ba, lol) the region is rich in war dances. Some examples are the Warai-Warai war dance, the Maranao war dance, the Moro war dance etc. These oral and physical folktales are so intricate in telling a story--particularly in the tales of the realm prior to the advent of Spanish colonization.
In all of these war dances, none are so violent and ravenous as that of the Warai-Warai war dance. In the reading of 'Hizpanization of the Philippines' by Juan Leddy Phelan, the writer goes into specific detail about the Spanish conquistadores under the command of Sr. Don Legaspi leading a massive campaign into the deep jungles of then- Warai-dominated Leyte and Samar. Phelan describes in the book that when the Spanish conquistadores arrived in Leyte with the aid of their new Boholano and Cebuano allies, were shocked to see a war dance by the local Warai-Warai Raja--who cut his own hands with a bladed Kriss. The Conquistadores and their allies were numbered at no more than several hundred while the Warai forces totalled in the thousands (the Spaniards use this number to describe a massive number; the used the same context when describing their wars with the Aztecs, the Ahuatls and the Incas of Latin America as well). Nonetheless, the shear mass of Warai forces that clashed with the Conquistadores and their Boholano and Cebuano allies routed the enemy. Many conquistadores and their native allies were defeated outright. Forcing them to run for their Galleons. It wasn't until a later y ear when a larger Spanish force--aided with naval bombardment and more native allies---that the Warai Raja in present day central Leyte was defeated. The Raja died in battle--as documented in Phelan's book.
But even to this day, there are dances that commemorate the Spanish defeat to the Warai and their Raja. A very very violent people, the Warai were. It took years for the Spaniards to completely subdue Leyte and Samar---and even then--there were pockets of rebellions against Spanish sovereignty by Warai peoples. Spanish control in Leyte and Samar was only manifested only because the Spaniards gave the region
complete autonomy. Leyte and Samar was governed and ruled by Gobernadorcillos and Principales that were themselves of Warai-Warai blood.
Interesting isn't it?
I never really knew how truly valiant and violent my father's people were. The first video captures in essence, the pure Warai-Warai war-like nature.
The
Head HuntersIt sends chills to my bones just watching them dance like that...
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