Sapatya, Holder of Philippine, Spanish & Mexican Histories

Folk dancing is another way Filipino culture is transmitted across generations and cultures. Here on Maui, I am part of La Galeria, a Philippine folk dance troupe. We have learned folk dance fundamentals, that has elements of Spanish and indigenous Filipino cultures.

Another dance Sapatya reveals traces of Spanish and indigenous Filipino. Sapatya originates in Pampanga, Luzon. The dance is presented to farmers as an offering for good harvest. The name is Sapatya may have originated from the Spanish term, Zapateado.

Spaniards settled in the Philippines between 1565 and 1815, to expand the Spanish colonial trade in the Asia-Pacific. Many Spaniards were said to come from Andalusia, while others were Castillian and Basque. Its interesting to note that Andalusia has more of the "moro" or "muslim" influences because it is located in Southern Spain. This area was considered the "moor" section, governed by Muslim kingdoms, before the Castillians dominated the whole country in 1492, under the reign of Queen Isabela and King Ferdinand. However, the cultural influences from the moors are still alive in the Flamenco dances, with their tapping steps and twirling. And, Sapatya also has traces of these cultural influences through the tapping feet and twirling. In the back the rondalla plays the tune, a guitar like instrument that was also imported from Spain.

Anyway, these Spanish settlers came to the Philippines working as soldiers, missionaries, government officials, and settlers, transforming the indigenous Filipino societies into tribute zones for Spain's King Philip. That is how the islands became known as the Philippines. This colonial society was racially stratified. Many Spaniards mixed with the indigenous Filipinos, creating a mestizo class. But don't be fooled: mixing was also caused by rape and other arranged marriages between tribes and Spanish settlers, to ensure that lands would be transferred to the new powers.

However, there were also mixes with people from Mexico, such as other Spanish officials, mulattos, mestizos, and indigenous Amerindians. Many indigenous and colored people from across the Pacific came as slaves, crew and servants, allowing cultural exchanges as well. For example, the words "palenque" is a Nahuatl word that is used for "market" in the Philippines.

Usually the purer-blood indigenous Filipinos were relegated to lower castes, while the more Spanish blood were in middle to upper classes. This was the ensure that the indigenous Filipinos would be kept down by the colonial government that was exploiting their natural resources for Spanish empire's trade.

Through the music and dances of Sapatya, a rich history of the Spanish empire is told. However, it is also important to ask questions of the meaning of Sapatya, in order to ask questions of Philippine's history. It is clear that Philippine's history is connected to that of Spain and Mexico.

Back to the dance: Did the Spanish settlers teach the indigenous Pampangenos Sapatya as way to pacify them, when their lands were being taken away under the encomienda systems? After all, Pampanga was established as a province in 1571.

Was dancing used as a past time to distract the Filipinos from resisting their enforced labor as tenant farmers to their Spanish landlords? Or, was dancing used to transmit the subjugated culture of Moors to the indigenous Filipinos who were also being subjugated by the Castillian Spanish empire?

Perhaps these critical questions can help to bring a deeper meaning to why Philippine dance is more than a sight to see. It can tell stories that are silenced under history.

Here's an example of how Sapatya is danced....