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ALIWAN FIESTA STREETDANCE COMPETITION - TOP REGIONAL ENTRIES IN 2008

The Tribes of Aliwan

Pakalog Festival of Pasig City
Navotas’ Pangisdaan
Panagbenga
Lang-ay festival of Bontoc
Laoag City’s Pamulinawen Festival
Gakit festival of Angadanan Isabela
Desposorio Festival
Boling-Boling Festival
Penafrancia Voyadores and Pilgrims Festival of Naga City
Pinta Flores festival
Sa-ad Festival of Leganes
Dinagyang Festival
Cotabato’s Halad Festival
Cebu Sinulog
Alikaraw festival of Hilongos
Buyogan festival
Zamboanga Sibugay’s Bakhawan Festival
Shariff Kabunsuan festival of Cotabato City
Meguyaya Festival
Kang’Gelal
Buklod Festival
Kalilintad festival
Lami-Lamihan

Just as easily as they party, Filipinos find an excuse to dance – for leisure or entertainment. . .as a manifestation of worship. . .or as a social valve for relationships. For this year’s Aliwan Fiesta – the annual cultural extravaganza organized by Manila Broadcasting Company and the Cultural Center of the Philippines in cooperation with the cities of Manila and Pasay – dance in its myriad forms once more takes centrestage, as interpreted in the festival context by contingents from various regions all over the country. As early as January, the roster of entries had reached the maximum number set by the organizers – solid proof of how keenly anticipated the festival is.

Metro Manila will be represented by the Pakalog Festival of Pasig City, anchored on the native delicacy called the “bulig,” and Navotas’ Pangisdaan which celebrates the city’s basic industry and the different phases of its livelihood development program.

From the Cordillera Administrative Region, Baguio City showcases its myriad blooms for which Panagbenga has become immensely popular, while highlighting the city’s feverish preparations for its forthcoming centennial celebrations. Mountain Province, in turn, will present the Lang-ay festival of Bontoc, which emphasizes the breakdown of barriers as indigenous practice merges with modern-day traditions in unifying the entire community.
Laoag City’s Pamulinawen Festival pays tribute to the hard-working Ilokano in the context of “Panagdaklis” or fishing as livelihood. Angadanan Isabela, in turn, will feature its Gakit festival.

Once more showcasing the artisans of Hagonoy and the Bulakeno’s mien for lyricism in its art forms is the Desposorio Festival. As residents of Catanauan, Quezon present the wild revelry of the Boling-Boling Festival, the Bicol region showcases religious fervour in the Penafrancia Voyadores and Pilgrims Festival of Naga City.

Townsfolk in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental blend dance and drama in presenting the legend of Princess Nabingka in the Pinta Flores festival. Iloilo, in turn, fields two entries – the Sa-ad Festival of Leganes, which is anchored on the miraculous deeds of St Vincent Ferrer, and the highly acclaimed Dinagyang Festival, which features the aboriginal tribes’ offering to the Infant Jesus.

This worship of the Santo Nino, which prevails in many parts of the country, likewise finds fruition in the breathtaking showcase of Midsayap, Cotabato’s Halad Festival, along with Cebu’s two-part pitch of the Sinulog, as interpreted by defending champion Lumad Basakanon, and the contingent from the municipality of Carmen.

Not to be outdone, Leyte also brings forward a double-header. The Alikaraw festival of Hilongos showcases its equally fervent religious devotion manifested by tribesmen who also learned to co-exist with their environment, while the town of Abuyog bring life to the mystical bees of the magical fairy Opayda in the Buyogan festival.

Ecological concerns also comprise the theme of Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay’s Bakhawan Festival, which draws public attention to the role of mangroves in protecting the community’s marine resources.

The Shariff Kabunsuan festival of Cotabato City is a grandiose portrayal of how the city was introduced to the Islamic faith. From the province bearing the shariff’s name, the town of Upi presents the Meguyaya Festival which highlights their ritual traditions in a grand celebration prior to beginning the work cycle. Sultan Kudarat displays its opulent coronation rites in the Kang’Gelal, while Parang presents its Buklod Festival as a show of unity and peaceful coexistence among Muslims and Christians.

From the young township of Mamasapano, Maguindanao comes the eternal story of of ill-fated love and a community’s quest for peace in the Kalilintad festival. And finally, from Lamitan, Basilan is the Lami-Lamihan, a joyous festivity showcasing the skill of their master weavers as the Yakan chieftains gather to preserve and propagate their cultural heritage.

Supported by Smart Buddy, Tanduay, Unilab, Sulpicio Lines, and Dunkin’ Donuts, Aliwan Fiesta is now on its sixth year, and will be held on May 1-3, with the grand culminating parade traversing Roxas Boulevard from Quirino Grandstand to the Aliw Theater at the CCP Complex. For enquiries, call 832-6125 or email siouxstar@gmail.com

Aliwan Schedule 2008 - Aliwan Photos - Aliwan Photos 2007

Aliwan Websites

http://www.aliwanfiesta.com

http://www.aliwanfestival.com - coming soon!

click here to see the Aliwan Festival Preparations 2008 

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