Text, photos and video by VINCENT GO
THE best dancers from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao came to celebrate cultural diversity in the heart of Manila at Aliwan 2012, a showdown of Philippine festivals, last weekend.
Now on its 10th year, the Aliwan Festival features a cultural street dance competition, a parade of floats, and the Reyna ng Aliwan (Queen of Aliwan) pageant.
The grand parade that traversed Roxas Boulevard from Quirino Grandstand to the Aliw Theater at the CCP Complex saw the best Philippine festivals—composed of dancers and floats from different areas—compete.
Tribu Pan-ay of Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo was adjudged Aliwan Festival’s Grand Champion, a grand slam win having won the title for the third straight year. Second place went to Buyogan Festival of Abuyog, Leyte, while the Pintados Kasadyaan Festival of Tacloban City, Leyte won third place.
The Pamulinawen Festival from Laoag City won the best float, with Lingganay Festival from Alang-alang, Leyte placing second and the Sagayan Festival from Parang, Maguindanao named third.
