An Marol is a courtship dance wherein the males try to gain the attention of the females by waving and offering sampaguita garlands. It originated in Catbalogan, Samar. The dance was originally a "pasakalyi" (an intermission) on Waray zarzuelas held during the Likud town fiestas in Catbalogan. "An Marol" literally means "The White Jasmine" or "Ang Sampaguita". The marol (or marun); Jasminum sambac, is actually the National Flower of the Philippines.
Another version of the An Marol dance came from Burawen, Tanauan and Tolosa towns in Eastern Leyte. The version is a beautiful courtship dance that portrays the meeting of lovers despite the objections of both their parents. The marol here is likened to the demure beloved as described in the folk song that goes with the dance: "...bantug humiyom, bantug tumawa, bantug ngatanan...."
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