This popular dance of grace and balance comes from Lubang Island, Mindoro. The term pandanggo comes from the Spanish word fandango, which is a dance characterized by lively steps and clapping that varies in rhythm in 3/4 time. This particular pandanggo is one of the most difficult of pandanggo, which involves the presence of three tinggoy, or oil lamps, balanced on the head and the back of each hand.
After a good catch, fishermen of Lingayen would celebrate by drinking wine and by dancing, swinging and circling a lighted lamp. Hence, the name "Oasiwas" which in the Pangasinan dialect means "swinging." This unique and colorful dance calls for skill in balancing an oil lamp on the head while circling in each hand a lighted lamp wrapped in a porous cloth or fishnet. The waltz-style music is similar to that of Pandanggo sa Ilaw.
Ang sayaw na Pandanggo sa Ilaw ay katutubo sa Lubang at Mindoro. May tatlong tinggoy ang nagsasayaw na babae. Maninimbang siya ng isang tinggoy sa ibabaw ng ulo at dalawang tinggoy sa mga kamay, pero hindi humahawak ang daliri ng mananayaw. Para sayawin ang pandanggo sa ilaw ng mananayaw, kailangan niya ng magandang bikas at mahusay na pinambang.
