An example of this is a woman playing a jaw’s harp or Aruding (see photo on the right). The Tau’t Bato says it is an imitation of the sound of a bird which they call, “tanguk”. The Tanguk, as described by the Tau’t Bato men, is just a bit smaller than a full grown chicken. It has green feathers like a parrot and can be seen in the forests of Mantalingahan.
Another song is called "Lantigi". It tells a story of a bird called “Limukon”, similar to a pigeon dove, found by a man near a well. The man wants to hold the bird but the bird tells him she doesn’t want to be touched. Emparay, the man (in the picture on the right) who sings the song tells the listeners that long ago, birds and men can talk with one another.
An example of a lullaby is the “Kulilal” which the Tau’t Bato learned from their Muslim neighbors. This is usually accompanied by a wind instrument called a “Suling”. The lyrics is also Pala’wan which means “sleep now my child, mother still has work to do.”
Pagang. It is an instrument made of a piece of bamboo with thirteen cords. It is placed in between the thighs and held by both hands while being played facing the singer.
Kudlong. This serves as guitar of the Tau’t Bato but it has two cords only. It is made of wood but can produce good sound.
Suling. An instrument made of small bamboo, about 12 cms long with four holes, and pieces of rattan are tied at each end. It produces sound when blown.
Aruding. An instrument made of a small piece of bamboo. This is called "jaw's harp" in English. It is placed near the mouth and blown to produce sound.
This musical instrument can be made by using a bolo or “itak”. A stick of bamboo is carved and a pebble is stuck to help produce the sound while an extract of honey is used to put the pieces together. An ideal tool to make this delicate instrument would be a small knife because the intricate design of the instrument demands the use of a thin, sharp object.
The Tarek.
Tau’t Bato called their most popular dance “Tarek” sometimes called
"sapa-sapa". It is performed all night during their “Basal” celebration
or in social gatherings, religious and festival activities and
thanksgiving celebration for a good harvest.
The dance step pattern of the tarek is the progressive
forward dance with a step pattern of feet stamping. The feet are stamped
alternately going forward in a circular motion. The hands holding the “palaspas”
or dried palm leaves tied together like pompoms, move up and down alternately.
Dancers wear patadyong and any kind of blouse. Only the
girls are allowed to dance the "Tarek" while the boys play the instruments:
gimbal, sanang and gong.
“Tarek” will last as desired by the performers. When tired, they just
rest for a while and continue the dance. “Tarek” starts from sunset
until the sunrise.
The “Toron”
The “Toron” is a dance performed by the “babaylan” to cure the sick.
The Tau’t Bato believes that those who are sick are possessed by bad
spirits.
A “Babaylan”, usually a female Tau’t Bato (but this can
also be played by men), is a priestess performing the rituals in honor
of their God named “Ampo” which means the Unseen. She also acts as the
healer or the “herbolario”. As a priest/priestess, he or she invokes the
good spirits and drives away bad spirits from those possessed by them.
The dancer wears a patadyong. It has a step pattern of
little jumping steps, moving around the sick person while the hands holding the “palaspas”
are raised up and down alternately.
The same instruments used in “Tarek” are also used in performing
the “Toron”.
The
Toron will last until the Babaylan collapses for they believed that a
spirit had come inside his body to cure the sick.
The female Tau’t Bato wears patadyong and nothing on top
and under.
However, the women started wearing shirts as they interact and barter
products with the lowlanders.
They are fond of wearing accessories like earrings, necklaces, rings
out of beads made by themselves.
According
to the study of Cardejon (2003), the PANAMIN during the Marcos regime
gave them beads and colorful dresses preserved until now.
The male Tau’t Bato wears bahag or G-string. Many men
learned to wear shorts and shirts later since clothes from "ukay-ukay" or relief clothes
are affordable.
Here are some examples of the Tau’t Bato games: (Click on this link for the video.)
Pating. “Pating” is an individual game which shows their skills in climbing vine. It is also carried out to collect honey and birds. Drunk members are not allowed to play the “pating” since it is one of their most dangerous sports.
Talubid-talubid. “Talubid-talubid” is a make-believe hunting; the Tau't Bato plays with a banana trunk as their make-believe boar called “Budyak”, and a bamboo pole with pointed tip is used as the spear. These games are usually played in the forest area.
Kosti. “Kosti” is a form of hand wrestling. The fingers of two players are alternately clasped together and they struggle to flip the hand over.
Dawit. “Dawit” is a also a form of hand wrestling but only the middle fingers are locked together and they stuggle to flip the hand over.
Limbus-limbusan. “Limbus-limbusan” is a form of arm wrestling similar to the arm wrestling of the lowlanders. The objective is similar to the games played in different cultures.
Sikar. “Sikar” is a form of leg wrestling and the players’ objective is to flip over the leg of his opponent .
One of the most challenging games of the Tau’t Bato is the Bangun-bangun. Bangun-bangun is a form of human weight training. The opponent played by a smaller person, acts as the human barbell. He lies on his stomach, folds his legs and grabs hold of his feet with his two hands. The larger player lies on his back while positioning himself perpendicular to the smaller player with his head towards the body of the human barbell. He then tries to lift the human barbell with him by striving to go into a standing position.
