The Filipino Community in Lithuania had the opportunity to showcase our national dance, Tinikling, on the main stage of the Vilnius is My City Festival, organized by International House Vilnius on August 24, 2025.
With every ninth resident of Vilnius being a foreigner, the city celebrated its diversity by hosting the biggest international party, where each nationality could share its unique culture through performances of song and dance, traditional food, and more.
Tinikling is a traditional folk dance from the Visayas region, particularly associated with the island of Leyte.
Its name comes from the tikling bird (a type of rail bird), known for its grace and speed as it walks between grass stems and dodges bamboo traps set by farmers. The dance imitates these bird movements.
Many historians believe the dance developed during the Spanish colonial era (16th–19th centuries).
One theory suggests that it began as a form of punishment: Filipino field workers who displeased Spanish landlords were made to stand between clashing bamboo poles. To avoid injury, they had to jump and dodge quickly—later evolving into a rhythmic, graceful dance.
Over time, what started as hardship transformed into a cultural expression of resilience and artistry.
A huge shout-out to the amazing group of young Filipinos from Kaunas who, with such short notice, worked tirelessly to prepare and confidently perform our traditional dance—beautifully dressed in Filipiniana attire!
All photos used on this post are owned by Interantional House Vilnius