Guling Guling 2021 | The Ilocano Dance Heritage

DANCE 11: GULING-GULING 2021
The Guling-guling of Paoay is celebrated every March right before the
proverbial St. Agustin Church.
As part of a sacred tradition, the dance highlights the smearing of the cross on
a person’s forehead using wet, white rice flour, as a form of cleansing from
sins. This practice was introduced by the Spanish friars which has been
celebrated for more than 400 years now.
Included in the celebration is the commemoration of the founding of the St.
Augustine’s Church which is a living testament of the people of Paoay’s
commitment and loyalty to their faith.
Hence, in celebration of the Guling-guling, the townsfolk don themselves in
the famous abel and dance their way to the church where they are met by the
priest who imprints the sign of the cross or guling on their foreheads.
For centuries, it has been marking each time a season of greater faith and
devotion among our people to the Almighty God. Today, the Guling-guling
inspires us to recommit and truly demonstrate our faith in our lives as we all
unite in praying for continuous progress, our rapid recovery, and abundance
for all of our kakailian.
Credits: ilocos Norte Tourism (Facebook)