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The Fire Dancers of Puerto Galera

25 November 2010 5,912 views 5 Comments
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Puerto Galera is best known for its marine biodiversity. Local and foreign divers frequent this town in the island of Mindoro to dive, snorkel, and generally enjoy the water sports that this top tourist destination offers. There is another thing though, that Puerto Galera offers visitors: that of a lively nightlife.

Fire dancing is an art.

In White Beach on Friday evenings up until the weekend, a group of fire dancers converge. Most of them are ladyboys (gays, homosexuals, or in the Filipino language, bakla), and when you get to see them dance, spinning around with a fire poi or meteor, or handling fire hoops with ease, you can only be filled with admiration at their skill, and the hundreds of hours they must have spent practicing their craft.

For fire dancing is a craft. You cannot handle the lighted tools without getting hurt, if you don’t spend enough time learning and mastering it.


Fire dancing is a skill hard-learned.

There are single performers, as in the woman in the pictures, but there are duos and groups as well. On a clear, moonless night, seeing these fire dancers weave their magic can indeed make your stay in Puerto Galera all the more memorable.

For other things you can do in Puerto Galera aside from water sports and watching these fire dancers at night, check out my guide on the What To Do in Puerto Galera for 3 Days and 2 Nights. For directions in going there, here’s how to go to Puerto Galera.
Photos ©Tuan TrungVu.

Learn how to fire dance!

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 Aleah Taboclaon is a freelance writer and editor. She likes running (completed one marathon, training for the next!), diving (PADI open water diver), and traveling with her Kindle. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus. You can also email her; she would love to hear from you!

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5 Comments »

  • Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen said:

    Great pictures! She sort of reminds me of the fire dancers in Maui — but that was at a luau at the Hyatt Regency. Your fire dancer is much more informal, and exotic.

    See you in cyberspace — or on our travels :-)

    Happy trails,
    Laurie (The Adventurous Writer)

    # 25 November 2010 at 1:51 pm
  • Aleah said:

    Thanks Laurie. She was really something. The other fire dancers (the ladyboys) were very nice too. I just couldn't get any nice pictures of them.

    Thanks for the link, by the way :)

    # 25 November 2010 at 2:25 pm
  • AziL™ said:

    Al, nice blog! I will add this site in my blogger friends! :)

    # 1 December 2010 at 7:20 am
  • Aleah said:

    Thanks, Liz!

    # 4 December 2010 at 8:31 am
  • What to Do in Puerto Galera (A 3D/2N Itinerary) | Solitary Wanderer said:

    [...] Beach comes alive at night. On Fridays and weekends, there are fire dancers on the beach, and live entertainment as well. For the best seat, grab a table in front of Mikko’s Bar, [...]

    # 16 January 2012 at 3:58 am

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