Tagalog Folk Song/Dance: ABARURAY- Mabuhay Singers (Very Rare Vinyl Copy)

"Abaruray" is a Tagalog folksong-dance which was very popular in the province of Quezon. Interpreted by the Mabuhay Singers. Audio from a 33 RPM vinyl phonograph record ("FS-Mabuhay Singers," Villar Records, VMQ 5853, Mareco Inc. Philippines, Undated).


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ABARURAY

"Abaruray" is the contractions of the words "Aba" and "Ruray." "Aba!" is an exclamation which is equivalent to "Hail!" in English. "Ruray" is a nickname for Aurora.

This dance is known in the Philippines by several names, such as "Hapayan," "Tagayan," "Pandanggo sa Baso" and "Abaroray."

In any social gathering in the remote "barrios" of the Philippines, it is customary to offer wine to the visitors. The offering is usually made by a young lady. She goes around with a glass and a bottle of native wine offering a drink to the visitors. This wine offering is a signal of folk dancing and singing.

The musicians play the introduction of the "Abaruray" music. The girl who is offering the wine picks out a young man among the guests and offers him a drink. This is her way of hinting of her desire to dance with him. The young man has to accept it or he commits a breach of etiquette and the girl is offended. His acceptance of the drink signifies that he will dance with the girl. he then stands and they begin dancing, with the girl leading him on.

The girl dances with the glass of wine on her head from which the young man drinks. Her dancing skill is shown in her ability to keep the glass on her head and in not spilling a drop of the wine. The audience sing and clap their hands in time with the music.

SOURCE: Francisca Reyes Tolentino, "Philippine National Dances", p. 1

PHILCLASSIC FILIPINIANA MUSIC ARCHIVE

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Abaruray
• Tagalog

[philclassic]

@felixbautista: Thanks for the comment, Tito. Although the lyrics of the song definitely does not match with the dance step ("where the young lady offers wine then dances "with the glass of wine on her head") it teaches the importance of returning things that are not yours: "Abaruray, Abarinding isauli mo ang suklay, singsing, tubiak, tigad and tukil" (I have no idea what the three last objects are). I guess Ruray has the habit of taking someone else's personal possessions. :))

[felixbautista]

The words "Abaruray Abarinding" were often heard when I was little but never heard the tune and the song until now... very nice... thank you for uploading.