SUA KU SUA

Dance Researcher: Ramon A. Obusan
Meaningful: My Pomelo Tree
Dance Culture: Muslim- lowland (Coastal)
Place of Origin: Jolo, Sulu
Country of Influence: China, Malaysia and Indonesia
Ethno- linguistic Group: Tausug
Classification: Courtship

The dependence of the Tausug on the Pomelo tree and its fruits have created a bond between the two which prompted the Tausog of Jolo, Sulu to make a dance honoring the latter. The Sua-Ku-Sua or “my Pomelo tree” is a dance that likens the sua’s gentle leaves, attractive fruits, its fragrance and slender body to that of a lady. Performed by couples, the Sua-Ku-Sua dancers make use of two white fans that are swayed, as if to signify the swaying of the leaves of the sua tree while singing along with the music in their rice powder-covered faces.

Background Aside from being known as fierce warriors, the Tausug of Jolo, Sulu are also remarkable as seafarers and farmers. In Sulu, extensive orchards are planted with coconut and Pomelo and the field with stables like rice and root crops. Pomelo fruit serve as an important source of income of the people of Sulu. Their dependence on Pomelo fruits for their livelihood inspired them to create Sua- Ku- Sua dance.

The movements of the dance compare sua’s gentle leaves, slender branches, attractive fruits, and fragrant flowers to a lady. During the performance, the couples sing while flapping two white fans which represent the leaves rustling in the wind. The performers, especially women, dance with faces thickly covered with finely ground rice powder. Their eyebrows and sideburns are enhanced with soot for aesthetic purposes.

This piano tutorial illustrates how to play the simple melody of this song. This is for the MUSIC Grade 7 Quarter 3 Topic which is about Music of Mindanao.

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Sua ko Sua
A
Sua ku sua, ku am pati anum
F5-F5-G5-A5-A5-A5#-C6-A5#-A5-A5#-G5
Sua ku sua, ku am pati anum
F5-F5-G5-A5-A5-A5#-C6-A5#-A5-A5#-G5
Ay dahun-dahun niya unum
F5-F5-G5-G5-D5-E5-F5-E5-D5-C5
Ay dahun-dahun niya unum
C5-C5-C5-C5-D5-E5-F5-G5-F5

B
Ay bang makatungtung sila ini tanun
F5-F5-G5-A5-A5-A5-A5#-C6-A5#-A5-A5#-G5
Ay bang makatungtung sila ini tanun
F5-F5-G5-A5-A5-A5-A5#-C6-A5#-A5-A5#-G5
Atay-atay kung makagumun
F5-F5-G5-G5-D5-E5-F5-E5-D5-C5
Atay-atay kung makagumun
C5-C5-C5-C5-D5-E5-F5-G5-F5

C
Ikapilaran kambay sararan
F5-F5-A5-A#5-C6 C6-C6-A#5-A5-G5
Hikalasahan di ka pipintasan
F5-F5-A5-A#5-C6-D6-C6-A5#-A5-A#5-G5
Dahon2x pipintas-pintas dahumahan
C6-A#5-G5-F5 F5-G5-G5-D5-E5-F5-E5-D5-C5
Magpipintas kapilaran iman
C5-C5-C5-C5-D5-E5-F5-G5-F5