FASA Modern Tinikling 2006

[JohnRiemannSoong]

simple -- make a hip hop track with filipino influences.

ask the black eyed peas to make a tinikling beat?

[matchew92]

good job ^_^ on the dance..do not worry Filipino roots are not dying...

[ROCJ4904]

believe it or not, the fear among the folkdance community is that if these 'fusions' become a standard instrument of learning for young adults, THEN WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ROOT? How will we properly educate filipinos? You're point has been comprehended. later

[KiSSthiscoolgirl]

Understood. I can only speak on behalf of my school's FilAm organization and my district, but we DO have other aspects of our organization that concentrate on education. Thus, our members and community do realize that what we label as "modern" stems from a folk dance with a different meaning. This year's Fall National Dialogue for the Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue (FIND Inc.) will help to implement the importance of using our resources to further enhance our knowledge

[KiSSthiscoolgirl]

and networking capabilities. I'd be happy to give you more information or direct you to someone who can. Have more faith in FilAm youth. There ARE those among us who do care about our roots and make the effort in preserving that while still being open to inevitable changes. We're not a bunch of mindless college students so please don't patronize us because THAT is insulting.

[ROCJ4904]

yes agree to disagree on certain parts. and i accept the direction that you've taken part in, its not like this whole fusion of dance can be forbidden literally. it's just important to know what these dances mean.

[ROCJ4904]

it is art to you, again i'll respect that. but how is it tinikling. the music isn't even present. if you were to do MODERN SINGKIL, how would it be any different from this; if it's just hiphop music and sticks? movements/steps/music makes folk, folk. hope i got my reasoning across as to why this is FALSE INTERPRETATION of our culture.

[KiSSthiscoolgirl]

I know the story behind the tinikling dance and I know what singkil is. I've come to the conclusion that you're obsessing over a misleading name that's been slapped onto a dance you find insulting. You're right. This "modern tinikling" preserves nothing of the original meaning aside from the clapping of the bamboo sticks; and to call it "modern tinikling" creates an issue of intellectual property (another controversial and misleading term that I won't even get into right now).

[KiSSthiscoolgirl]

To those who don't understand what the tinikling really represents, I agree that the modern version does not convey that story. But how bout this... maybe it's called modern tinikling because of the not-so-simple nature of language. Associating the element of jumping through clapping bamboo sticks with tinikling, someone decided to call it modern tinikling. It has taken elements of hip hop music and dance into it to create a product of who we are as a generation of Filipino AMERICANS.

[KiSSthiscoolgirl]

And again, my point is that this "modern tinikling" is simply a name derived from its source of inspiration, which I promise you, we have not forgotten, and that we still make a point to show and tell during our Philippine Culture Nights. Like I said before, we're taking something we know and applying it to something we connect with more. Think about the kind of things on our minds right now... the kind of feelings that pass through us as teens/lower 20s. Don't tell me that hip hop music

[KiSSthiscoolgirl]

doesn't give me something to connect with, whether it be about love, loss, or even just a good club banger. (I could add that even hip hop has gone through its share of evolution and will continue to change through the years... it's natural). What I'm trying to say is that you're totally right in your argument, but it has nothing to do with what I'm supporting. What we call "modern tinikling" has a different meaning to us than what YOU would expect from a modern tinikling.

[KiSSthiscoolgirl]

It IS a false representation of Filipino culture, but certainly not of Filipino American culture. We don't connect with a bird jumping through rice traps, or being punished for working in the field too slow. But the many complex variations of how the sticks are arranged in our interpretation of the dance can be a more figurative representation of challenges we face. You can't squash a change that you find repulsing, so just try to understand it before you drive yourself crazy.

[KiSSthiscoolgirl]

I really do think you can explore more constructive avenues for your thoughts because believe it or not, this debate has been very beneficial to me. So... thank you. I get you. Do you get me now?

[ROCJ4904]

this is just a bunch of students jumping over some random layout of sticks to hiphop music. not being ignorant, but how is this tinikling? i mean, the stick layout is more representative of SINGKIL; a Maranao dance where a princess dodges forest earthquakes. see my point? you need certain things to LIVE UP TO THE DANCE NAME

[ROCJ4904]

i hope you're getting my point here. the problem is the new generation of filipino young adults/teens just jump into this without looking into it. THEY only know the surface, the tip of the iceberg. so yes. there is nothing TINIKLING about this. Art it is, for you, yes; respected. but it comes at a loss where YOU'RE not affected, but others are; those who gave you something to be proud of.

[ROCJ4904]

correction: modern(insert whatever filipino folkdance). i'm going to get technical just to prove my point. this is not 'tinikling'. bamboos and jumping does not make it tinikling. where is the hand movements and steps to symbolize the Tikling bird? where are the counts? why is the clapping absurd? why is it tic-tac-toe? whats the meaning of that?

[ROCJ4904]

What i asked of you is impossible, yes i know. now let's switch it around: how many HS/college students do this kind of stuff? nationwide. yes ''art'' is probably controversial like how graffiti art is. i'll respect your views but to credible people in the FILIPINO folkdance world, there's no such thing as MODERN(insert whatever dance). just like there isn't vietnamese or indian hiphop

[ROCJ4904]

lol ok i know this isnt going to end satisfying both parties. INTRODUCE ME TO A MEMBER OF A PROFESSIONAL GROUP (DANCER, CHOREOGRAPHER, DIRECTOR, ETC) who is involved w/ mixing modern INTO FIILPINO FOLKDANCE. he/she can be ANYWHERE in the world. point out just ONE, and ill lick my own ass

[ROCJ4904]

OVER OVER OVER. I'M NOT COMMENTING ANYMORE. ALL THAT MATTERS IS I'M A PART OF INDIVIDUALS WHO MAKE PROGRESS INTO PRESERVING F O L K DANCE. WITHOUT US, you would not even KNOW OF tinikling. we're not just ''spectators'' who's minds can be changed>>WHY, we've been in your spot.. this is our heart and dedication being tarnished. let's just say... kinda similar to.. words etched in stone. you know, like the Bible.

[sammowammo]

excuse me, sir. are you aware that the title of this dance is MODERN tinikling and not traditional tinikling? we're filipino-american and i don't see how it's disrespecting our culture when other american forms of art are influenced by the different cultures that make up america. you're debating on something stupid like the name itself, and not the true art behind it.

[sammowammo]

i know these people. they know about the tradition, and they wouldn't do anything to disrespect it. they're filipino too. their parents watch these shows, and i don't hear them saying, "anak, that was horrible. what are you kids doing?" yeah, that's right. shut up.

[KiSSthiscoolgirl]

I don't doubt that you know what you're talking about and I believe that you're very credible in this matter, but I just don't understand why you're downing what we do when it's obvious our groups have different purposes and different audiences. I never said you were wrong in what you do. I'm just defending what we do. I'm totally with you on the fact that someone's got to preserve the culture, but what about reaching people outside of that?

[KiSSthiscoolgirl]

What our STUDENT organization aims to do is to spread what we know to our community in ways that they connect with. Why stomp on our efforts with fighting words when you can help us in more constructive ways? I like to think that I'm an open-minded person, but if you're trying to school me on something I don't know, then I'd appreciate if you came at me in a more amicable way than commenting on my youtube video, publicly announcing that you find us "insulting."

[KiSSthiscoolgirl]

No, I cannot stand you because of this horrible first impression we've made on each other; however, I am interested in knowing more about whatever you're trying to get through to me because right now, you've just been talking a lot of hot air. What do you want from us? What are you talking about... paying dues? I love how you totally ended this conversation once you said your piece as if I wouldn't have anything to say... HA.

[KiSSthiscoolgirl]

Oh, and a friend of mine pointed something out about how you compared folk dance to "words etched in stone... like the Bible." If you did research on that, you'd find that there are several versions of the Torah, or what you might know as the Old Testament, which was elaborated on by a new generation of Jews, and still kept as part of the Bible. So yeah. Thanks for supporting my argument.

[KiSSthiscoolgirl]

Yes I did tell you to get that stick out of your ass. This is youtube. What kind of level of formality are you expecting??  And one more thing.. I'm not your homie.

[ROCJ4904]

one last thing. WHO CHOREOGRAPHED THIS AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?? No one credible in the folkdance realm. whoops there u go!!!! spend time ACTUALLY figuring out your culture. it's all just paying dues, thats all.

[ROCJ4904]

i still cant believe you said ''get at me if you need help pulling that stick out of your ass''. i dont think anyone in any profession would go backwards. i'll prolly respect you claiming this is an 'artform'. it prolly is, but even if WE don't witness it, it's hurting the culture. if anything, you should look deeper. i've been in your shoes before. YOU CAN'T A L T E R WITH WHAT IS ON PAPER/MANUSCRIPTS AND THE PEOPLE WHO MAKES IT POSSIBLE!! REMEMBER THAT

[ROCJ4904]

these decades old dance companies> (TRADITIONAL)Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, (THEATRICAL)Bayanihan Dance Company. I happen to belong to a professional group closely following ROFG, so yeh. later homie

[ROCJ4904]

i agree that we are extremely disagree. i dont blame you, even we professionals are engaged in some ''IRON CURTAIN''. so yes, i am apologizing, i guess; coz i know this crap isnt going nowhere. you see there is TRADITIONAL and THEATRICAL/MODERNIZED. i'll LEAVE YOU to decide foryourself. you should research so you have an idea of what i MEANT

[ROCJ4904]

''stick out of my ass''? you make it sound like i dont know what im talking about. look up the wikipedia of tinikling. ''UNFORTUNATELY'' the dance has been modernized and a new generation caters to modern tastes such as setting up the bamboo in a tictactoe pattern

[ROCJ4904]

i know my place and im very much credible w/ this issue. and i know this will get nowhere if we continue to 'debate' even though without people who i stand up for, YOU wouldnt even have something to be proud of. i'll agree to disagree. good day

[KiSSthiscoolgirl]

People like me, huh. My "level." So I'm uneducated. Thanks. Did you know that this performance followed the traditional tinikling, which I've also uploaded? I really don't know what you're getting so riled up about... the Filipino American Student Association at Virginia Tech makes it a point to not stick to JUST putting out a modern tinikling performance during culture shows because of the exact reason you're giving me. We understand that we shouldn't lose the meaning behind these

[KiSSthiscoolgirl]

folk dances, but we also believe that it is our right to take that knowledge and apply it to something we connect with. So yes, I am telling you off for talking down to me and telling me that dance, as an art, should never evolve into something else through the years just as other things do... science, technology... LANGUAGE. Get at me if you need help pulling that stick out of your ass.

[ROCJ4904]

Sorry to sound ignorant but I've been to your level. You should look into the realm of folkdance and you'll understand ADULTERATION. Our founding mother FRANCESCA REYES AQUINO is responsible for this revolution 60 years ago. she said,''let folkdance be just that, OF THE FOLK''. again not personal opinion. were in an era where young people are uneducated about paying dues to our culture. thats all.

[ROCJ4904]

Ok this isn't coming from ME PERSONALLY. I'd say im defending the culture. I mean, do you realize there are people who are responsible for researching folkdances so people like YOU can be exposed to them? THEY are the ones being offended. Again it's not coming from me, this is the general feeling among the folkdance community. Think about this, why would you tell US OFF if people like us are the ones responsible for you even being exposed to this.

[ROCJ4904]

THIS IS PRETTY INSULTING. This group of filipinos may not realize it but you're disrespecting yourselvvvvveeeesss. Anyone involved with filipino folkdance would place this on their top 3 pet peeves

[KiSSthiscoolgirl]

Sometimes I wonder why people click on things they don't like to see. And if we didn't "realize" we were "disrespecting" ourselves, then I guess we're not disrespecting ourselves, are we? If you're saying that we don't know the story behind the tinikling, then you're wrong to assume. What's wrong with taking something we know and making it our own? I don't see how it is insulting to take Filipino tradition into American culture.

[KiSSthiscoolgirl]

Art always borrows from what already exists.  Open your mind before you let your mouth talk next time. Thanks.

[flipinpina]

is it just me or is the sound off??

[joe4realz19]

way off....