SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Name of Submitter: JOSE R. TATON JR.

Institutional Affiliation: UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES VISAYAS

Mailing Address: Paterno St., Poblacion East, Oton, Iloilo, Philippines

Phone/Fax number: (+63)9465097766

Email Address: josetatonjr@gmail.com

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Type of Presentation: Individual Paper, New Research

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 BUUT AND PANGAKO:
INTERIORITY AND PERFORMATIVITY IN
THE SÁYAW TRADITION OF TUBUNGAN, ILOILO

JOSE R. TATON JR.

University of the Philippines Visayas
josetatonjr@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Pangako (pledge) is an important social contract among the Tubungan Bukidnons in the
southern highland areas of Panay Island, Philippines. In marriage arrangements, its expression is
particularly significant in the performance of the sáyaw, a music-dance processional ritual which
involves a highly coordinated and technical sword-play rendered by a pair of male dancers and
accompanied by a banda, a small string and percussion ensemble. The performance is believed to
clear out unwanted omens and malevolent spirits in the future marital life of a betrothed couple.

Drawing from studies on indigenous psychology and performance studies, this paper
examines pangako as a manifestation of the inner self (buut) and as a performative force in the
production of the sáyaw. I posit that pangako is constitutive of social and moral values overtly
enacted in a ritual performance. Moreover, I explore how pangako opens up a framework of social
action that engenders the production of a space where music-dance interactions and spiritual idioms
ensue. Finally, I view pangako as a link between internal psychological states of being and external
praxis. In turn, this symbolic utterance facilitates the construction, maintenance and enactment of the
Tubungan Bukidnon’s social realities.

Keywords: sayaw, buut, pangako, performativity, Tubungan Bukidnon

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

JOSE R. TATON JR.

University of the Philippine Visayas
josetatonjr@gmail.com

Jose R. Taton, Jr. is an instructor at the University of the Philippines Visayas. He finished his Master
of Arts, major in Ethnomusicology at Philippine Women’s University where he is currently pursuing
doctoral studies in music, major in Ethnomusicology. His research interests include festival studies
and ethno-choreomusicology. At present, he is undertaking research on music-dance practices among
the Panay Bukidnon people living in southern highland areas of Panay Island.