Artist Interview - Dorothy Livelo Pt.1

KUMUSTA and welcome to the FLICK family, Dorothy!

We are DELIGHTED to have your deck Sayaw Pilipinas in-game to celebrate the traditions of Buwan ng Wika - the infamous Filipino Language Month! 

For fans who haven’t heard of this huuuuge celebration, please explain what Buwan ng Wika is?

- Buwan ng Wika is a celebration Filipinos do every August. We acknowledge the importance of Filipino language and how it brought us all together. The flag ceremony is certainly a crucial part to ignite the celebrations. There are usually various cultural and educational events scheduled for the month such as Balagtasan (Poetic Debate), Filipino games, and of course the deck’s theme – folk dances, and so much more! 

Sayaw is a Cebuano term taken from a Filipino word meaning ‘to DANCE!’ Beautifully recreated in your cards, please tell us more about the beautiful symbolism and costumes?

- Behind all those costumes/props are the different Filipino stories, such as various historical backgrounds, rituals, courting, animals, life during the past centuries and more! Costumes and props play a BIG part in Filipino folk dances as they help convey the Filipino culture and narrative so well.  

Philippine folk dances have many interesting origins - could you tell us about a few of the actual dances and what they symbolise for each region?

- Yes, I can share a summary of a few of what I know and have read about the dances while illustrating the deck 😊 I have yet to discover what the others symbolize. Rest assured, I will definitely explore more about them during Buwan ng Wika season!

- Tinikling, originated from Leyte Province, Visayas, is considered the national dance. This was based on the “tikling bird” where people hop over bamboo traps (mimicked by the dancers).

- Maglalatik, originated from Binan, Laguna, Luzon, where dancers have coconut shells on their bodies which imitates the past war between Christians and Moros over a prized item.

- Singkil, originated from Mindanao, is where dancers wear the famous “sarimanok” (mythical bird) headdress – it is a retelling of an epic legend, “Darangan”.

 If you want to read a more in-depth explanation about the dances, I recommend searching it on the web and you’ll see a lot of different articles about them! It’s really interesting to know and makes the dances much more meaningful! (P.S: -Filipinos reading this: Please do share and correct me if I wrote a mistake or missed something 😊)

 Do you have a favourite folk dance and are they tricky to learn?

- My most favorite folk dance that I’ve tried would have to be the Tinikling! I recall how my friends and I would spend so much time trying to dance and avoid getting hit by the bamboo poles that were being tapped on the ground (yes, my feet were caught by the bamboo several times those days :D). It is a really challenging dance to learn but still very fun! If I had the chance, I think I’d go and try to learn the other dances as well – there are still so many I haven’t tried and seen myself and I think that would be such a great experience!

How do you and your family celebrate this special month

- We always eat different Filipino Food, learn new things about the country, and of course, we make sure to do our best and speak in full Filipino 😊 Before the pandemic though, we would definitely explore new festivals and events that showcase anything Filipino! 

There are so many beautiful regional languages spoken in your home country - do you speak many?

- I actually just speak one, but I would love to learn other regional languages here. Oftentimes, I would see familiar words but still won’t understand because it’s a totally different dialect, so I think it’d be great to be able to speak and understand other people as well

How important is language in celebrating and keeping a community’s identity?

- Language is what keeps us together. As said before, there are many regional languages in the Philippines, and I think that these different dialects are what gives people the sense of understanding in which they can relate to, and thus giving them identity. I believe it just brings everyone together. We should continue to embrace our very own language and to stay proud of it!

What is the most important message from Buwan ng Wika for you personally?

- I believe Buwan ng Wika is a reminder to be proud of one’s culture, respect other cultures, and to continually appreciate the beauty of the Filipino language! I believe it is also a reminder of one’s roots.

The Philippines is a country made up of thousands of beautiful islands, some still inhabited, where exactly is home to you? And, what is the view out of your window right now?

 - Living in the southwest of Manila, I believe home is wherever my family is 😊 No matter where we would go, I think what makes home home is wherever my loved ones are. The view outside my window – ah! It’s a rainy day with no vehicles in sight. Just wet plants and trees. A good time to take a nap!

We know that Filipinos love festivals! How many can you manage in a year!? And, what MAKES a festival the one you want to be at!?

- Yes, we do LOVE festivals A LOT! Though I haven’t attended so much myself, I do recall being in some during my childhood. I usually see performers on the roads/streets with their distinctive costumes accompanied by a marching band. I honestly don’t have criteria when it comes to festivals. I just enjoy watching these people perform and play! I believe that’s what makes a festival lively!

We all know the very famous Filipino dish Adobo, what is your favourite festival food?

- Rice cakes! One of my favorites is Kutsinta (steamed rice cake), which is best eaten with the niyog (coconut shavings)!

Are there any festivals around the world that you have on your must-go list?

- I’ve always wanted to attend Coachella! It just seems to be such a fun experience to be in a desert while listening and watching different musical acts. I have seen a lot of celebrities/influencers attend this yearly, and I find it so festive to be able to try out these unique outfits too! This is surely in the bucket list! 

What is your festival outfit?  I assume you may need a few! ;)

- Definitely the national outfit, Baro’t Saya (Blouse and Skirt)! 😊

Another huge celebration is Christmas, is it right that Filipinos start celebrating and preparing as early as September?  ;) You must have all the gifts wrapped by October - are you a very organised person?

- Yes, haha! Filipinos LOVE Christmas! (Who doesn’t though?) As soon as the “ber” months (this is what we usually call the last 4 months of the year ending with the letters b-e-r) begin, Christmas memes and music are already all-over social media, haha! :D Though I am not super organized, not messy either, I admit that I do sometimes buy or window shop for gifts this time as well! 😊 Normally the malls, plazas, and other recreational places would have their Christmas decorations up and the holiday music playing! Some streets would also have their street lights replaced with the parols (“ornamental lanterns”) already. If you want to feel the holiday spirit, I definitely recommend visiting the country and experiencing Christmas here (... post-pandemic)!

Huge LOVE to Dorothy for taking us on a real journey to her home country and making us feel part of the Buwan ng Wika festival! The FEST VIBES continue in Dorothy’s DECK ready to download in-game now!