Pastores de Sibonga
Pastores de Sibonga is a short Christmas play which narrates the nativity as performed in Magcagong, Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines. The play depicts the shepherds' adoration of the child Jesus.
Pastores de Sibonga dates back to the 1920s (Ocampo 2004)
Description
Pastores de Sibonga is performed by at least four dancers. The female dancer makes use of a red blouse or red paired with a long white skirt. The male dancer wears a red shirt paired with black pants. Accessories include a round hat decorated with cut-outs of the sun, moon and stars in yellow, red, green, and other brightly colored papers together with a yellow sash placed across the body. It is performed used red fans and white handkerchiefs. An oval-shaped native fan is used and held by the right hand during the performance. The white square handkerchief is held by the left hand folded into a triangular shape.
The accompaniment music is a rondalla – a ensemble (guitar, bandurria, and banjo), played with the plectrum. The lyrics tell of the pre–, nativity, and post–nativity settings. It expresses happiness, joy, and worship, and offers praises and gifts for Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
Sources
- Ocampo, Astrid G. (2004). "The 'Pastores de Sibonga' in Southern Cebu". Graduate Journal (Cebu: University of San Carlos) XX (2).
- De Gracia, Quir L. (20 December 1988). "The Christmas Pastores of Old are Vanishing". The Freeman (Cebu: Freeman Publishing).
- Janson, Mila C. (1991). Sayaw sa mga Pastores in the Province of Cebu (MEd thesis). Cebu: Cebu State College.