South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) recently announced that it will launch its first domestic jet services from Manila to Cebu on July 1, 2011 and Manila to Davao on July 2 as part of the SEAIR-Tiger Airways Partner Airline Programme.

Special starting fare offers will be for as low as 499 PHP one-way to/from Cebu for travel on July 1 to October 29, 2011, and 999 PHP one-way to/from Davao for travel on July 2 to October 29, 2011. Passengers can now buy tickets online at FlySeair.com and tigerairways.com, or call +63 2 849 0100, the SEAIR Hotline for domestic and international flights.

SEAIR will have up to 10 daily flights to and from Cebu and up to six daily flights to and from Davao from its jet operations base at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) domestic terminal.

Cebu and Davao are the major tourist gateways in the Philippines for Visayas and Mindanao, respectively. Cebu, the “Queen City of the South”, also known locally as Sugbo, is the capital city of the island of Cebu and the oldest city in the country. Its popular tourist attractions include the Magellan’s Cross Shrine, an important historical landmark that signalled the beginning of the Spanish occupation in the Philippines, and the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño (Minor Basilica of the Santo Niño), which houses the Santo Niño de Cebú (Holy Child of Cebu), the oldest Catholic relic in the Philippines.

Apart from exploring the Spanish side of Cebu, nature-loving travellers can discover rich marine life at scuba diving spots in Moalbal, Malapascua, and Pescador Island, or hop on a ferry to its island neighbors, Bohol and Negros, for dive safaris in Cabilao and Apo Island.

The largest city in the country and the premier hub of Mindanao, Davao is home to some of the country’s top beach and mountain resorts, most notably the Pearl Farm in the secluded island of Samal, just 45 minutes off the coast of the city. Adventure-seekers can sign up for a two-day climb at Mount Apo, the Philippines’ tallest mountain at 9,692 ft located just 40 km northeast of Davao, or sample durian, “the king of fruits”, which, due to its unusual flavor and odor, have aroused intense passion in some and dislike in others. The annual week-long Kadayawan Festival in August, the biggest of its kind in Mindanao, is celebrated during the peak season of durian and mangosteen (another fruit) as a thanksgiving celebration for the bountiful harvest of flowers and fruits that Davao is known for.

The Cebu and Davao flights are the first domestic flights under the SEAIR-Tiger Airways Partner Airline Programme, which allows SEAIR to distribute its seats through the established online booking system, www.tigerairways.com. SEAIR is the first Tiger Airways Partner Airline in the Asia Pacific region.

“SEAIR’s great value fares and this expanded network will offer travellers even more value-for-money destinations to choose from, together with worry-free bookings. The introduction of high frequency domestic jet routes will also drive the creation of new jobs as well boost tourism across the Philippines,” said SEAIR President and CEO Avelino Zapanta.

SEAIR is the second oldest airline in the country. It has the reputation of having pioneered commercial flights to the country’s fastest growing tourist destinations including Boracay, Batanes, and northern Palawan. Now on its 16th year of operation, it has expanded its reach regionally with jet services to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Macau.

The country’s biggest festival is set to take the center stage once again. The Cebu Sinulog Festival features scores of contingents coming from within and outside Cebu. Sinulog is prayer dance ritual characterized by the movement of two steps forward and one step backward imitating the rush of the river, hence, its name.

The grand parade of Sinulog Festival of Cebu is usually held on the third Sunday of January, but other activites are held prior to the grand highlight light the fluvial parade, search of the Sinulog Festival queen, the Sinulog sa Baranggay, Sinulog sa Lalawigan, the nine-day novena and a whole lot more.

Many dance troupes have actually started their dance rehearsals as early as now. Last year’s Sinulog Festival Free Interpretation Category Champion, Lumad Basakanon have actually confirmed that they are now rehearsing their dance routine for the Sinulog Festival 2009

Check the Sinulog 2009 Schedule for details

Upcoming Events

At least 34 festivals will be joining the upcoming Pasigarbo sa Sugbo street dance competition to be held this August 9 in Mandaue City Cebu Philippines.

Continue Pasigarbo sa Sugbo here.

Upcoming Events

The following are results of the recent Aliwan Festival 2008 which was held in Manila last May 1 to 3, 2008.

Winner Results for the Streetdance Competition

Grand Champion: Lumad Basakanon, Sinulog Festival of Cebu City
2nd Place: Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo City
3rd Place: Sinulog Festival, Carmen Cebu

Runners-up

- Kadayawan Festival of Davao City
- Pamulinawen Festival of Laoag City
- Halad Festival of Midsayap, North Cotabato
- Singkaban Festival of Hagonoy Bulacan
- Buyugan Festival of Abuyog, Leyte
- Saad Festival of Leganes, Iloilo
- Alikaraw Festival of Hilongos Leyte

Best Float Design Competition

Grand Champion : Pamulinawen Festival, Laoag City
2nd Place: Boling Boling Festival, Catanauan, Quezon Province
3rd Place: Sinulog Festival, Cebu City

Runners-up

- Kalilintad Festival of Mamasapano Shariff Kabunsuan
- Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City
- Guinakit of Parang Shariff Kabunsuan
- Panagbenga Festival of Baguio City
- Kalilangan Festival of General Santos City
- Singkaban Festival of Hagonoy Bulacan

Be prepared as the country’s biggest, loudest, and the most colorful festivals will once again converge at the Philippine capital of Manila for the annual Aliwan Fiesta 2008.

This year, the Aliwan 2008 is slated May 1-3. The Aliwan Festival is organized by the media outfit, Manila Broadcasting Company. The Aliwan Fiesta is actually made up of three parts, the beauty pageant known as the Reyna ng Aliwan, the Float competition and the street dance competition of the various festivals from all over Luzon Visayas and Mindanao.

The list of the 2007 Aliwan Fiesta winners can be found here

This year, 27 festivals will be seeing action during the Grand Streetdance competition

1. Pakalog sa pasig
2. pangisdaan – navotas
3. panagbenga – baguio
4. Lang-ay – bontoc
5. Pamulinawen – laoag
6. Gakit – Angadanan, isabela
7. Desposorio – hagonoy bulacan
8. boling boling – catanauan quezon
9. Peñafrancia voyadores and pilgrims festival – naga
10. pintaflores – san carlos , negros occidental
11. saad – Leganes, iloilo
12 Dinagyang 2010 – iloilo
13. Halad – midsayap
14. Sinulog – cebu city
15. Sinulog sa Carmen – Carmen, cebu
16. Alikaraw – hilongos Leyte
17 Buyogan – Abuyog Leyte
18 Bakhawan – Zamboanga Sibugay
19. Shariff Kabunsuan festival – Cotabato City
20. Meguyaya – Upi, Shariff Kabunsuan
21. Kang’Gelal – Sultan Kudarat
22. Buklod – Parang Maguindanao
23. Kalilintad – Mamasapano, Maguindanao
24. Lami Lamihan – Lamitan Basilan
25. Kasag Festival – Banate, Iloilo **(unconfirmed)
26. Kadayawan – Davao City
27 Zamboanga Hermosa – Zamboanga City **(unconfirmed)

The highlight of the Aliwan Festival is the grand streetdance competition on May 3, 2008. The streetdance will start from the Quirino Grandstand and will end at the Aliw Theater, beside the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Based on the last 2 Aliwan Fiestas I have witnessed, there will be three judging areas: The Quirino Grandstand and the Aliw Theater as the main judging areas and the area right in front of the Rajah Sulayman Fountain in Malate for the streetdance competition. The Aliwan Fiesta 2008 Streetdance parade will start at 4PM.

For the complete coverage of the 2008 Aliwan Fiesta, please go to the Aliwan Fiesta page

For more travel tales, click here

Upcoming Festivals to watch out for!

Sinulog 2010
Ati-atihan 2010
Dinagyang 2010
Panagbenga Festival 2010
Philippine International hot Air Balloon fiesta 2009 Clark Pampanga

As posted by the Philippines Department of Tourism (DoT), see below the list of events for the year 2008:

Panagbenga: Baguio Flower Festival
Baguio City; February 1 to March 5
(074) 4465793, 4421007

Sibug-Sibug Festival
Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay; February 1 to 16
(062) 3335557

Bicol Arts Festival
Legazpi City, Albay; February 1 to 28
(052) 8206315

Music & Theater Festival
De Lara Park (Capitol Grounds), Cagayan de Oro; February 1 to 29
(08822) 726394, 723696

Salakayan Festival
Miag-ao, Iloilo; First week of February
(033) 5091260, 3209505

Chinese Lunar New Year
Baguio City; February 2
(074) 4422855

Feast of our Lady of Candles
Jaro, Iloilo City; February 2
(033) 5091260, 3209505

Pamulinawen
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; February 2 to 10
(077) 7731676

Fiesta Tsinoy
Legaspi City, Albay; February 3
(052) 4820712

Dinagsa
Sto. Nino Plaza, Poblacion, Muntinlupa City
(02) 5230820

Burdahan Festival
Taal, Bocaue, Bulacan; February 4 to 13
(044) 6926720, (0920) 4008240

Chinese New Year
Manila; February 7
(02) 5281134

Burgos Town Fiesta/Buybuy Festival
Burgos, La Union; February 9 to 11
(0912) 2081227, (0918) 2134618

Chinese New year
Downtown Iloilo City; February 9
(033) 3372172, 3367572

Babaylan Festival
Bago City, Negros Occidental; February 9
(034) 4610540, 7328362

Pagoda sa Daan
Pateros, Metro Manila; 2nd Saturday of February
(02) 5424346

Fertility Rites/Feast Day of Sta. Clara
Sta. Clara Parish, Pasay City; February 10
(02) 5510523

Bodbod Kabog
Catmon, Cebu; February 10
(032) 4309196

Tinagba Festival
Iriga City; February 11
(054) 6551397

Rokyaw Festival
Aquinas University, Legaspi City; February 11
(052) 8208747

Ullalim Festival
Tabuk, Kalinga; February 12 to 14
(074) 4427014, 6191127

Foundation Anniversary of the Province of Apayao
Kabugao, Apayao; February 14
(074) 4427014, 6191127

Laguimanok Festival
Padre Burgos, Quezon; February 14 to 17
(0920) 9075812

Sarok
Consolacion, Cebu; February 14
(032) 3441246

Travel Tour Expo
SMX Convention Center, SM Bay City, Pasay City; February 15 to 17
(02) 5520026 to 29, 8451324

Governor’s Cup 2008 – A Horse Show Competition
Cube Boardwalk, Mandaue City; February 15 to 17
(032) 2341643

Sayaw Pinoy
Liceo de Cagayan University, February 16
(08822) 723696

Sorteo Grand Festival
Carmona, Cavite; February 16 to 22
(046) 4301611

Iloilo Paraw Regatta
Villa Beach, Sto. Nino Sur, Arevalo, Iloilo City; February 16 to 17
(033) 3372172; 3367572

Tawo-tawo
Bayawas City, Negros Oriental; February 18
(035) 5310743

Kapyaan Festival
Davao del Sur, February 18 to 19
(0920) 3136792, (082) 4411472

Kaamulan Festival
Bukidnon, February 18 to March 10
(08822) 726394, 723696

Pasayaw
Canlaon City, Negros Oriental; February 19
(035) 4140004

Sampaguita Festival
San Pedro, Laguna; February 21 to 22
(02) 8686623

Musikahan
Tagum City; February 21 to 27
(084) 4003788, 3710659

Kalilangan Festival
General Santos City; February 21 to 27
(083) 5538338, 5538448

33rd Bamboo Organ Festival
Las Pinas Church, Las Pinas City; February 21 to 29
(02) 8741440

WOW Araw ng Caraga
Caraga; February 22 to 23
(085) 8156040

International Philippine Marathon
Manila – Marikina; February 24
Registration: February 17; Orchidarium, Rizal Park
(02) 5276376, 5276378 to 79

Cebu Charter Day
Cebu City; February 24
(032) 4124355

Ani ng Sining
Municipal Gym, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur; February 25 to 28
(0920) 3136792, (082) 4411463

Yesterday, I went to Makati City, Philippines to witness the Caracol Festival. The first time I heard of these festival was in 2006, but I wasn’t able to witness it because I went to Bacolod then. Last year I also skipped this event for Cebu Sinulog Festival. Now, I no longer have any reasons for skipping this event. It’s actually my first time seeing this parade.

Caracol is derived from a Spanish word meaning “Snail.” As the name implies, the theme of the festival revolves around the preservation of the Mother Earth. Young kids from elementary schools as well as the High School and College students all dressed up in various Mother Nature theme. There were kids dressed as bees, sea horses, jellyfish, birds, tarsiers, flowers and grasshoppers. There we also some dressed as rice planters and illegal wood cutters to complete the whole picture.

The parade started late because of the drizzle. That’s fine. I know the organizers a re keen in protecting the well-being of these students. What really disappointed me is that these so-called “dancers” just walked down the streets of Makati Avenue instead of dancing. They just did their presentation at the judging area near the Park Square 1 building, were only a few people got to witness. The place is so small, and the view is obstructed by several trees and a lamp post. I guess the number of people who watched in the street is far greater than the number of the people cramped in the judging area. That is why they should have added street dance criteria to their judging mechanics.

Another thing that pissed me off is the power fluctuation in the judging area. I did not finish the performances at the judging area, but I have seen at least two power fluctuations which lead to two contingents dancing and performing their routine even without the music.

I see a big potential in this festival. I just hope that the organizers can very well improve it for the next year’s edition. And have a street dance, please.

View the Caracol Festival Photo Slideshow here

More travel tales here.

Upcoming Festivals to watch out for!

Sinulog 2010
Ati-atihan 2010
Dinagyang 2010
Panagbenga Festival 2010
Philippine International hot Air Balloon fiesta 2009 Clark Pampanga

April 28, 2007 was no ordinary date in the Philippine calendar. It was the day when the 5th Aliwan Fiesta was held in Manila, Philippines.

Aliwan Fiesta is an event organized by the media outfit Manila Broadcasting Corporation. It’s aim is to bring all the festivals of the country in Manila for a one big festival championship. As expected, thousands drove to the streets of Manila, from Quirino Grandstand, down to the Aliw Theater in CCP Complex.

Dancing for the million peso grand prize, the Sinulog Festival of Cebu City

22 Festivals competed for the 1Million Peso Grand Prize and the bragging rights as the Philippines’ Best Festival. Competing delegations all came in from as far as Baguio City in the north, and Maguindanao in the south.

Iloilo City’s Dinagyang Festival

For the first time in the short history of Aliwan Fiesta, Cebu City’s Sinulog Festival represented by the group Lumad Basakanon won the grand title for two straight years now. This year’s first runner up and winner of half a million pesos is Iloilo City’s Dinagyang Festival. The third place winner is Hilongos, Leyte’s Alikaraw Festival. It was the first time that Alikaraw Festival joined the Aliwan, and yet they were able to land in the top three already.

First-timer AlikarawFestival of Hilongos, Leyte

Various festivals have showcased the unique culture in their respective cities and provinces. The Pasalamat Festival of Pagadian City is a celebration of thanksgiving for a bountiful fish catch. The Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City portrays how an ati, a dark skinned native of Panay dressed up in full regalia to conform to the norms of modernity. The Disposorio Festival of Hagonoy Bulacan retells the unique courtship culture the Tagalogs have, commonly known as the pamamanhikan. the Sinulog Festival tells the story of fisherman who went out to sea but didn’t catch any fish at all. They all prayed to the Santo Niño, and was later blessed with an abundant catch.

For more Aliwan Fiesta update, click here

Upcoming Festivals to watch out for!

Sinulog 2010
Ati-atihan 2010
Dinagyang 2010
Panagbenga Festival 2010
Philippine International hot Air Balloon fiesta 2009 Clark Pampanga

Here’s the updated list of the official participants to the Aliwan Festival 2007:

Sinulog Festival of Cebu City

Sagayan Festival of Sultan Kudarat

Pakalog Festival of Pasig City

Panagbenga Festival of Baguio City

Sambali Cagayana Festival of Cagayan

Disposorio Festival of Malolos, Bulacan

Pamitinan Festival of Rodriguez, Rizal

Boling Boling Festival of Catanauan, Quezon

Pili Festival of Sorsogon City

Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City (Ilonganon and Kahilwayan contingents)

Babaylan Festival of Bago City, Negros Occidental

Alikaraw Festival of Hilongos, Leyte

Padul-ong Festival of Borongan, Eastern Samar

Pasalamat Festival of Pagadian City

Zamboanga Hermosa Festival of Zamboanga City

Kalilangan Festival of General Santos City

Padang-Padang Festival of Parang, Shariff Kabunsuan

Melimud Festival of South Upi, Maguindanao.

Get ready as the country’s biggest, and most colorful festivals will once again converge in Manila for the annual Aliwan Fiesta 2007!

L-R: Meguyaya Festival of Maguindanao; Cebu City Sinulog; Placer Masbate’s Himag-Ulaw Festival; GenSan’s Kalilangan Festival

The event is slated April 26-28, 2007. The streetdance competition will start at the Quirino Grandstand and will end at the Aliw Theater atthe CCP Complex.

At stake is P1 Million Pesos and the bragging rights as the “Philippines’ Best Festival.”

Expected to join this year’s edition is the Lumad Basakanon, the Grand Champion of the Cebu City Sinulog Festival 2007, and the Tribu Ilonganon the winnder of Iloilo City’s Dinagyang Festival2007. The former won the 2006 Aliwan Fiesta grand title while the latter won the 1st runner up trophy.

List of Winners HERE

Upcoming Festivals to watch out for!

Sinulog 2010
Ati-atihan 2010
Dinagyang 2010
Panagbenga Festival 2010
Philippine International hot Air Balloon fiesta 2009 Clark Pampanga