Dallot: A Chant for Entreatment

Entreatment or pamanhikan in Tagalog is one of the traditions in the Philippines. The party of the gentleman that includes the parents and other relatives visit the girlfriend’s home with her parents around and other relatives to witness. This is the stage where they talk about the forthcoming marriage. They would ask for the lady’s hand for the gentleman to tie the knot with. They offer dowry to the lady and seal their talk and engage to marry. Serenading is a part of the tradition. In the Iluko culture, dallot is a part of it.

Another very interesting part of Ilocano heritage is the staging of dallot during the launch of the Center for Ilocano-Amianan Studies at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac, Ilocos Norte. This was performed by JR Cubangbang and Dr. Shirley Mina.



This was my first time to witness this kind of play. It’s really fascinating, humorous to hear and understand the words and its message. The words rhyme and they are like tongue twisters. It was accompanied by sound of a flute. I got from the performers these following texts they used:

Pito
Lalakian:

A ta daldallot dumidinallang
A ta daldallot dalidallang
Umuna nga innak kablaawan
Daguiti mangimaton ken
Mangimatang
Iti masaok ditoy a saklang .

Ay rugiak ngarud ita
Nga ibalikas, isarita
Ti immay mi ginagara
Tapno mangegyo a sangapada.

Nagtarakenak iti manok
Kawitan nga agdudumog
Naispantar ngem natakrot
Ket iti parbangon agtaraok

Ti taraok itopy a manok
Ul-ulitenna iyas-asug
“Ay ama, innak kad la iyasug
Iti sabong a nalibnos.”

Nagnaak ngarud a dagus
Nagpadaya a nagpalaud
Iti dalan a ruborob
Ken napalalu ti kaatiddog.

Isu’t gapuna a nabaonak
Nga immay ditoy, kakabsat
Ta gandatmi ti umay agrukbab
Umuli ita a dayag.

Lalakian:

Yamanenmi unay, kakabsat
Ta uray awan bunga toy gandat
Nga Immaymi kadakay indatag
Nagsaad met la nga naimbag.

Ket kas tanda ‘toy ngsasaritaan
Intayo man ita sibugan
Ta bareng dinto la
Mainsa saanan
Ti urnos tayo a sida daan.

Lalakian:

Ay sungbatak man, kabsat
Tay balikas mo a nasudi
Uray no awan pang-naamnamaan mi
No la ketdi pasangbayen dakami.

Dikam to aya mabannogan
Nga umay ditoy a saklang
Wen, pudno dikamto la inggaan
No di ni ayat ti inkam
Malak-am.

Lalakian:

Ala inkamin kakabsatko,
Diyos ti agngina iti ayatyo
Umay kam manen no Domingo
Ket naimbag a rabiiyo

Ata dallot dallidalang
Ata daldallot duminidinallang

Pito

Babaian:

A ta daldallot dumidinallang
A ta daldallot dalidallang
Dallot Dumidinallang
Dallidallot, dallidallang.

Kas diak ammo ti sumungbat
Ta kakabsatko, naklaatak
Dios a managngaasi kaasiannak
Nga mangurnos itoy saritak.

Dakkel a parikut, kakabsat ko
Daytoy a ginagarayo
Ikkan dakami ti aldaw ken tiempo
Ta tulagenmi a kas mainumo.

Balbaliwantayonto ti dumatag
A sumaklang ditoy a dayag
A ta dallot, dallidallang
Duminidallot,
Duminidallang.

Pito

Babaian:

Ngem uray kad no uminomak
Ti basi yo a baak
Diak kad’ pakabasolan,
Kakabsat
No ni namnama diak
Maibalikas.

Ta ammo yo, dikay, agudua
A ni Annakko addan nakemna
No kas pangarigan awan tulagda
Diak maipapilit no madi aya.

Pito:

Babaian:

Maawatak, kakabsatko
Nadalus gayam gagarayo
Dawaten ngarud toy numo
“Toy balikas ket ipangagyo.”

Nagtarakenak met iti piek
Dumalaguita a bassit
Dinungdungngok nga impasnek
Ta minalem nga aponek.

No iti bigat bussuangak met
Saak pakanen ti maregmeg
Regregak pay ti pegpeg
Iti baet ti basar ken delleg

Ngem itan ta dakkel ni piek
Ni kawitan umasideg
Kayatna ti mangseppeg
Iti dumalaga nga ing-ingutek.

Ngem uray pay no kasta
A ti nagbannogak esmanna
Agpabayadak a kas rebengna
Tapno adda pagmennamennaanna.

Daytoyen ti pagpatinggaan
Ti saritak itoy a saklang
A, ta dallot dalidallang
A daldallot dumidinallang
Pito

After lalakian

(Repeat)