Philippine Folk Dance – Tiklos

Tiklos (also called “pintakasi”) is the Waray equivalent to the “bayanihan”. Groups of people work for somebody without hoping for anything in return. They work odd jobs like clearing forests, digging the earth for wells, moving a nipa hut to a new location or even building a house! In all these for free. Of course grateful benefactors would offer drinks and food; but it is not always expected. The peasants cooperate for the social and economic progress of their community.

The Tiklos is a native peasant dance of Leyte. Very early in the morning, the leader of the tiklos beats the tambora, a kind of drum made from a hollow trunk of a tree with a carabao hide head. Next comes sounds of the subing (bamboo flutes) and the guimbal-a small snare drum with a head of a parchment made from the skin of a wildcat.

The peasants come out with grass hooks, bols and other garden tools and farm implements. Led by the band, they march together to work in the fields. During breaks the peasants enjoy themselves with tuba (a native wine) and the rest dance the tiklos accompanied by the subing (plawta), guimbal and tambora drums or when available, the “sista” played by the band. The Tiklos music is also played to call them back to work