Answer:The traditional Singkil dance of the Philippines is believed to have originated from the Maranao people of Mindanao and is rooted in the Darangen, an ancient epic of the Maranao similar to the Ramayana. While the exact date of its origin is unknown, it is thought to have been performed for centuries as a royal dance.Singkil was traditionally performed by noblewomen to showcase grace and elegance, often using bamboo poles to simulate a dramatic escape scene from the Darangen. In the 1950s, the Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company adapted and popularized Singkil as a cultural performance for international audiences, adding elements like a male lead dancer portraying Prince Bantugan.