The Tinikling folkdance originated in Tanauan, Leyte?

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
August 28, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte – The local government of Tanauan, Leyte is now in the middle of an extensive research on whether or not the National Folkdance of the Philippines, the Tinikling, indeed, originated in Tanauan, Leyte.

The quest started when the attention of Mayor Roque Tiu was called regarding the 2005 Calendar of the Philippine National Oil Corporation entitled Sulyap (Glimpse) which highlighted the looking back into the home of Filipino culture and taking a glimpse into one’s roots in relation to moving forward in life. It inspired one to rediscover the Philippine cultural identity through the truly Filipino customs and traditions which have withstood the tests of time and live on to this day.

The second page, March-April page, featured the Tinikling with a brief description in Pilipino dialect …”ang Tinikling ay nagmula sa Tanauan, Leyte. Isa ito sa mga pinaka-kilalang Pilipinong sayaw sa buong mundo. Ang pagkamalikhain ng mga taga Leyte ay nagbigay buhay sa simpleng galaw ng ibong tikling, kung saan nakuha ang pangalan ng sayaw. Sa Tinikling naipamalas ang likas na halina at pagiging masayahin na nabubukod-tangi sa mga Pilipino.” (Tinikling originated in Tanauan, Leyte. It is one of the best known Philippine dance. The creativity of the people of Leyte gave life to the simple movement of tikling birds from which the dance got its name Tinikling. The dance mirrors the innate grace and joy of the Filipinos).

The municipal government of Tanauan is requesting historians and enthusiasts of culture and the arts to shed light on the issue so that the local government can initiate moves towards preserving the culture of the municipality which has been baptized the title of Cradle of the Intellectuals (Bungto Han Kamag-araman) ever since the Spanish Regime.

Mayor Tiu revealed that the municipal government has already made inquiries from some of the local well-known artists and intellectuals on culture and they all agreed to help in the research.

One version has it, that the Tinikling really originated in Tanauan, Leyte particularly in Barangay Kiling. Some stories have it that the name Kiling was derived from Tikling. This version have yet to be authenticated.

One thing is sure though, the Tinikling dance which is the national folkdance of the Philippines, originated in the province of Leyte. Which part of Leyte? That is a question which Mayor Tiu and the people of Tanauan want to be answered.