SUBANEN Dance of Misamis Occidental

The Subanen are an indigenous group in Mindanao, especially around the hinterlands and mountainous regions, including parts of Misamis Occidental.

In the province-wide Perangat Festival, which celebrates Subanen culture, each municipality is assigned a ritual theme. Concepcion’s assigned “ritual” in past Perangat lineups is the Ritual of Healing.

The Subanen dance motifs often include low bows, alternating arms forward/back, footwork close to the ground, and lateral arm waves between knee and overhead levels.

Costumes used in Subanen dance performances in Misamis Occidental often use black as the main color with red and yellow accents on hems, sleeves, etc.

There is also the Subayan Keg Subanen Festival (in Ozamiz City) which features street dancing, tableaux, and performances depicting the lifestyle, rituals, music, and oral traditions of the Subanen.