Aliwan Fiesta 2008

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 Aliwan Fiesta is a yearly event anticipated by the many. Organized bythe media outfit Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC), the Aliwan Festival aims to promote the rich, colorful and vibrant festivals of the Philippines. Through the Aliwan Fiesta, one does not need to hop from one island to another just to experience the non-stop streetdancing, and the loud drumbeating. No need to take a bus and roam all over Luzon and fly to Visayas or sail the high seas going to Mindanao. It's all being carried here in the country's capital, Manila. Get the chance to see Cebu City's Sinulog Festival represented by the Lumad Basakanon perform their Dance ritual. See the Tribu Paghida-et of Iloilo City's Dinagyang Festival perform their dance routine. It's also your chance to see other equally colorful and beautiful festivals like the General Santos, Kalilangan Festival, Zamboanga City's Hermosa festival, Baguio City's Panagbenga Festival and Maguindanao's Padang-padang Festival. Its seeing all the country's best all in just one sitting.

The list of the 2007 Aliwan Fiesta winners can be found here. This year, I would be very very glad to see if the following festivals would join, or return to Aliwan again.

Pamulinawen Festival of Laoag City
Bonok Bonok Marajaw Karajaw of Surigao City
Diyandi Festival of Iligan
Sinulog Festival of Cebu
Masskara Festival of Bacolod City
Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City
Tultugan Festival of Maasin, Iloilo
Halad Festival of Pigcawayan North Cotabato
Kadayawan Festival of Davao City
Pintaflores Festival of San Carlos City

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.
This is a great opportunity for all those photographic enthusiasts like me & hubby. Hope we can witness this once a year festival celebration.