MARCH

SANDUGO

 
The Sandugo Festival In true Boholano fashion, the Sandugo Festival today is celebrated through a series of various activities that last over a month. Thousands of people from all over the Philippines, as well as tourists from other countries, flock to Bohol to witness street parades, sports tournaments and cockfights, and the reenactment of the historic blood compact. No Philippine festival will ever be complete without colorful costumes, lively music and drum beats, fireworks, solemn church services, food, and, of course, beauty pageants. The search for Ms. Bohol Sandugo, a gathering of Bohol’s prettiest ladies, is one of the highlights of the festival and has been the most awaited events year after year. There is also a street dancing competition during the Sandugo festival, an activity that is very typical among Philippine festivals and has become a permanent fixture in most major festivals here. For the street dancing competition, each group or contingent develops its own choreography with special and bright-colored costumes. Each group of dancers has its own marching band of drums, trumpets and xylophones that provide the beat and the music. The audience is treated to beautifully synchronized dances, bursts of color and feet-stomping music as the contingents make parade on the streets. The street dancing competition, however, has been moved to the month of July to coincide with the yearly “Tigum Bol-anon Tibuok Kalibutan.” The Tigum Bol-anon is a gathering of Boholanos from all over the world. Those Boholanos who have left the island and migrated to various parts of the globe traditionally come home to take part in this event.



PINTADOS FESTIVAL

 
The Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival is a merry-making event lasting a whole month, highlights of which include the Leyte Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals, the 17th Pintados Festival Ritual Dance Presentation and the "Pagrayhak'' Grand Parade. These festivals are said to have began from the feast day of Señor Santo Niño, held every June 29th. The Leyteños celebrate a religious festival in a unique and colorful way. Since the Visayans are experienced in the art of body tattooing, men and women are fond of tattooing themselves. The Pintados Festival displays the rich cultural heritage, incorporating native music and dances, of the people of Leyte and Samar. The Leyte Kasadya-an Festival of Festivals, meanwhile, showcases the unique culture and colorful history of the Province of Leyte. Started by former Leyte Governor Remedios Loreto-Petilla, the celebration was first held on May 12, 1996. The festivities weren't always held every June 29th; the first three years saw different dates. It was only in 1999 that it was fixed to June 29, the Feast of the Señor Santo Niño de Leyte. "Kasadyaan'' in the Visayan tongue means merriment and jollity. Various municipal festivals of Leyte gather together in the original capital of Tacloban City for the celebration. There, lively dance-drama parade of many colors takes place. There is an important role that the festival plays, and it is strengthening the Leyteños' sense of pride. Every municipality mounts a storyline all their own to portray with pride their local folklore and legends. The Festival The Pintados festival of Tacloban City is a Filipino festival with its own unique flavor. This Pintados festival recalls Pre-Spanish history of the native Leytenos from wars, epics and folk religions. The most expected aspect of the Pintados festival are the festive dancers, painted from head to toe with designs that look like armor to resemble the tattooed warriors of old. During the course of the Pintados festival, dancers whose bodies are painted in an amazing array of colors fill the streets of Tacloban city. At first sight, they may seem outrageous as grown men pour into the streets decorated in such dazzling colors as luminous blue or neon green. But as one gets used to this and sees the dances depicted, one gets a glimpse of the history of the people that once lived on the islands of Leyte so long ago. The folk dances presented by the dancers portray the many traditions that flourished before the Spaniards came. These include worship of idols, indigenous music and epic stories. The hypnotic rhythms of native instruments beat through the air accompanying the dances performed on the streets as the Pintados festival goes. Aside from the folk dances, is the much likely parade, which crisscrosses the avenues of Tacloban city. The parade traditionally begins at the Balayuan Towers and proceeds throughout tacloban leyte city. The surprised spectators follow the procession of dancing colors from the beginning to end. The Pintados festival concludes in much merrymaking with a signature traditional Filipino fiesta, where everyone is invited to join the fun and celebrate the Pintados Festival.