The Aliwan Fiesta is over but the spirit of festivities still lingers among those who have witnessed it like me. And, again, I am proud to be part of it for the 4th time! The first was in 2008, then in 2009 and 2011. Like in the previous years, it is always an awesome experience witnessing the most colorful, most energetic and the grandest festival in the Philippines! This year, there are 23 participants (including the floats).
The Grand Float Competition is one of the greatest spectacle and display of craftsmanship and creativity of expressing one's culture and tradition. To me, this is the most challenging task of every contingent to depict their culture in a single artistic expression. Indeed, Filipinos have shown their creativity and artistry, once more!
I had my bets in mind, and I think my choices jive with those of the judges. I put my bet on the Grand Winner, which is the Laoag City's Pamulinawen Festival.
And these are the top three spot goes to:
1st Place - Pamulinawen Festival of Laoag City
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| The float is composed of 4 parts. The main float which is adorned with garlic and peanuts--supposedly the agricultural products that Laoag City is known for. |
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| The middle of the float which features the muse of Pamulinawen Festival. |
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| An ancient dapilan, which show a carabao walking around the dapilan to squeeze the sugarcane juice. |
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| A boy farmer riding a carabao and a carriage called "ulnas" with real products such as sugarcane, and Ilocano wine in a big jar (burnay) called basi. |
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| Chickens following the boy and a big lizard running after them. |
2nd Place - Lingganay Festival of Alang-alang, Leyte
They derive inspiration from the town of Alang-alang’s wealth and pride -- a church bell cast in gold by the Franciscan missionary Father Baysa – allegedly hidden in the depths of the lake Bakga, up to this very day. (Source: Aliwan Fiesta Website)
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| The float depicts a huge bell--which also serves as the "skirt" of the Lingganay Festival Queen on top. |
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| Lingganay Festival queen on top of the bell-shaped skirt. |
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| Details of the float. |
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| Representing the townsfolk of Alang-alang, Leyte. |
3rd Place - Sagayan Festival of Parang, Maguindanao.
The province of Maguindanao celebrates its colorful traditions in the revered Sagayan – a dance of nobility, gallantry, and honor. Depicting fierce warriors carrying elaborately painted shields and double-bladed swords, Sagayan dancers are in a three-tiered skirt in the standard tricolor of red, green, and yellow, with brightly colored headgear embellished with feathers, mirrors, tassels, and other trimmings. Secular and spiritual in nature, the Sagayn is performed on different occasions like weddings or healing rituals. Although it is an ancient dance, the Sagayan has endured the test of time in the hearts fo Maguindanaoans and continues to live and flourish as an undying testament to their noble ancestry and exciting history. (Source: Aliwan Fiesta Website)
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6 comments :
awesome photos! wish i was there to witness the event.. runaway winner ang Pamulinawen... ang ganda! :)
Mervin, there is still next year. Yes, indeed, Pamulinawen was a runaway winner!
hands down choice ang Laoag float, sa grandstand ang lakas ng palakpakan pagdaan nyan. if they're going to join again next year, matinding pressure to top this one. comment nung foreigner na katabi ko sa Festival Queen ng Linganay "how did she got up there and how she'll go down?"
Zherwin, Pamulinawen has been consistent ever since. Natawa naman ako sa comment nung foreigner. Hehe. Thanks!
Believe ako sa mga taga Laoag, magaling talaga sila sa mga ganito. Naaalala ko ung Laoag city Gymnastics na nanalo sa Showtime.
Congrats Laoag City!
kakatuwa ung sa lingganay... ganda ng float nila, plus the festival queen on top of the huge bell.... amazing... beautiful girl... siya ung sinulog queen second runner up if i am not mistaken...
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