Dance is a part of the Philippines’ culture and it has a connection with different aspects like their way of living, their occupation and beliefs. How does it connect? Filipinos come up with dance moves that imitate those aspects and dancing is their way to show other people about their culture.
Philippines is the only catholic country in Asia and the festivals in the Philippines commemorates the feast day of their patron saints but remembering the patron saints is not only done by celebrating festivals but also by doing the dance and Gapnod dance is one of those dances.
WHAT IS GAPNOD DANCE
Gapnod dance is a Visayan folk dance that is being performed during June 12; the celebration is being done by the procession of the decorative boat in the river. It is a dance commemorates the day the image of St. Anthony de Padua was found by the fisherman. Gapnod dance is a reenactment of the discovery of the statue and it is considered as a worship dance by the locals of Sibulan, Negros Oriental.
GAPNOD DANCE TODAY
Gapnod dance is not a popular traditional folk dance in the Philippines but the people in Sibulan, Negros Oriental still performs it every festival. There are groups who keep on promoting Traditional Folk dances in the Philippines to make the people more aware of the traditional dances and eventually make the people appreciate it.