The cariñosa (Spanish pronunciation: [kaɾiˈɲosa], meaning loving or affectionate) is a Philippine dance of colonial-era origin from the Maria Clara suite of Philippine folk dances, where the fan or handkerchief plays an instrumental role as it places the couple in a romance scenario.
According to the book of Francisca Reyes-Aquino, Philippine Folk Dances, Volume 2, there is a different version of the cariñosa in the region of Bicol.
Reyes-Aquino is a Filipino folk dancer and cultural researcher who discovered and documented Philippine traditional dances, one of which is the Cariñosa.
In addition, Filipino wore the patadyong kimona and camisa de chino to reveal nationalism.
The cariñosa is considered to be an official national dance of the Philippines, as no law has designated them as such.