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

I’m back here in Manila. Anyway the Dinagyang Festival 2008 in Iloilo City Philippines was a huge success. Thousands of locals, and foreign tourists flocked to Iloilo to witness the annual celebration of the Dinagyang Festival.

Anyway, here’s the list of winners of yesterday’s competition:

GRAND CHAMPION: Tribu Paghidaet

1st runner-up, Tribu Ilonganon

2nd runner-up, Tribu Taga Jaro

More Dinagyang stories 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

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

The City if San Fernando in the province of Pampanga will once again shine in its brightest as it holds the annual Ligligan Parul or the Giant Lantern Festival. The highlights of the event will be held at the SM San Fernando Ampitheater at around 7PM. Be there early as large crowds are expected to witness this event.

Scene from the 2005 Ligligan Parul in San Fernando

See how the magic of the Kapampangan works when Christmas lanterns or Parol as high as 18 feet twinkle its lights to the tune of Christmas songs. See how thousands of lamp bulbs is tranformed into a visual masterpiece.

San Fernando, Pampanga is known for making attractive and very colorful Christmas lanterns known in Filipino as Parol. Because of this, the Kapampangan Capital City has been known as the Christmas Capital of the Philippines.

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

The 7-day Western Visayas Tourism Assembly with the theme, “Entrepreneurial Tourism: Beyond Tourist Arrivals”, is slated on November 12 – 18 in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

The assembly aims to highlight, promote and showcase the diversity of the tourism attractions, services and facilities of the different areas of Region VI. It is intended to be a colorful display of destination attractions, cultural and historical events, shopping and investment opportunities.

Some of the highlights of the assembly are the Regional Tourism Fair and Cultural Showcase on November 12 – 18 at SM City Bacolod, Regional Travel Exchange on November 12 – 14 at Sugarland Hotel, Regional Tourism Congress on November 14 at L’Fisher Hotel, Tourism Excellence Awards on November 14 at Nature’s Village Resort, Talisay City, Search for Ms. WV Tourism on November 15 at the Provincial Capitol, and Regional Parade of Festivals on November 16.

The assembly is sponsored by the Department of Tourism – VI, Bacolod City Government, Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, Negros Island Tourism Inc., Association of Tourism Officers of Negros Occ. (ATONO) in cooperation with Naitas Hrano, Women in Travel in Bacolod.

For information, the Negros Occ. Tourism Center can be reached through 433-2515 and 709-8775 or e-mail at tourism_negocc@yahoo.com.

- Capitol News

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

It has always been in our culture as Filipinos that traveling is always declared as a group activity. Most or shall I say, many of us would often go out of town together with friends or family members.

But, how many has actually traveled alone? I doubt if anyone will raise hands here.

Unknown to many, traveling solo has its perks too. It was through journeying alone that I was able to develop my skills in communicating with the strangers. I get to know a lot of people. I was able to appreciate local history more.

Traveling alone is a very liberating experience for me. Imagine, I don’t have to wait for friends at the airport for an extra minute before queuing at the check in counter. I dont have to worry extra budget in case my friends would ask to dine in an upscale restaurant, or take a taxi instead of the usual jeepney ride. I can go to any place that I want. What if my friends love to go to the park, while I want to visit a local museum? Hard, isn’t it? Traveling with friends always limit your choices of itinerary. Not to mention limiting the foods that your going to binge in. I love seafoods, but my friend is allergic to crustaceans. While my other friend is a vegetarian???

The pace of your traveling activity is not a problem when you are alone. You can set your pace if you want to tour quick, or walk slowly, just like in the park.

I myself love traveling alone. It gives me the freedom to explore a city without the need to tow friends who are not interested in what I’m doing. I really enjoyed my self so much when I traveled all alone last July 2006, from Manila to Baguio, Baguio to Vigan, and Vigan to Manila. December 2006, I saw my self flying alone to the Asia’s Latin City of Zamboanga, then swim at the white sand beaches of Basilan. I also traveled alone for the Dinagyang Festival 2006 in Iloilo City.

So if I were to choose between traveling with a group or traveling alone, I’d still prefer the latter. The adventures are limitless. Who knows what happens next.

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

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

Last February 17, the Ilonggos painted the city of Iloilo red! Iloilo City has recently held its annual Lunar New Year Celebrations along the city’s Chinatown Triangle.

Aside from Binondo in Manila, Iloilo is just one of the Philippine cities with a large Chinese population. That is why both the Tsinoys (Filipino-Chinese) and the Ilonggos always hang red lanterns and buntings all over the city streets during this time of the year.

Iloilo City officials led by Hon. Mayor Jerry Treñas welcomed the guests and crowd to this grand affair. Several Chinese VIPs headed by Madam Teresita Ang-See flew to this Ilonggo city to witness the event.

Dragon and Lion dances are always present. Firecrackers are lighted on the streetside. Five Iloilo-based Chinese schools also presented Chinese dances. The program, which is spoken in English and Mandarin, ended with a grandiose fireworks display.

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 expected, thousands of tourists, both foreign and local drove to Iloilo City for the annual Dinagyang Festival. The fiesta is held every 4th Sunday of January in honor of the Santo Niño.

20 tribes participated in the ati-ati contest, the highlight of this grand festival. The streetdance started at 8 in the morning and lasted until 1 in the afternoon.

Iloilo city Mayor Jerry Treñas said that this is the best dinagyang Festival since it started. The costumes are just so spectacular! The choreography’s amazing. I have also seen several tribes changing costumes and headresses during the performance.

Dinagyang is the only festival in the world recognized by the United Nations to promote its advocacy campaign on the Millenium Development Goals (MGD). It was also adjust last year by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) as the Best Tourism Event of the Philippines. The Dinagyang Festival also won the 1st runner up title in the 2006 Aliwan Festival.

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