Faces of Aliwan (Aliwan Fiesta 2015)

 

Aliwan Fiesta, dubbed as “The Mother of All Fiestas” or “The Philippines Grandest Fiesta,” is the annual gathering if different cultural festivals if the Philippines. 


The term, Aliwan, is a Tagalog word for “entertainment” or “amusement.” The fiesta parade starts rom Quirino Grand stand to Star City Complex in Pasay City where the different contingents compete in their cultural street dance, float parade, and beauty pageant -- Reyna ng Aliwan (Queen of Aliwan). It aims to showcase the different Filipino culture, heritage and promoting their respective beliefs and religion. Each of the country’s 17 regions have the option to send at most 2 representing contingents for the street dance, as well as the representing float and Reyna ng Aliwan.

 

I have long wanted to attend this grand event ever since I started working in Manila but just had the chance after 5 years! My friends and I were not particular to the flow of the event, we went to the assembly area at Quirino to get some portraits and then to Star City Complex to watch the dance competition, missing the parade in the process. So, I’m looking forward to do that next year. Meanwhile, here are some of the faces of Aliwan captured by my camera last weekend:

Here’s the list of Aliwan Fiesta streetdance, float design, and Reyna ng Aliwan winners since 2003:

Streetdance

2015 Manaragat Festival-Catbalogan City
2014 Sinulog Festival-Cebu City
2013 Dinagyang Festival-Iloilo City
2012 Dinagyang Festival-Iloilo City
2011 Dinagyang Festival-Iloilo City
2010 Dinagyang Festival-Iloilo City
2009 Buyogan Festival-Abuyog, Leyte
2008 Sinulog Festival-Cebu City
2007 Sinulog Festival-Cebu City
2006 Sinulog Festival-Cebu City
2005 Pintados de Pasi-Pasi, Iloilo
2004 Dinagyang Festival-Iloilo City
2003 Halad Festival-Midsayap, Cotabato

Float Design (First Place, Second Place, Third Place)

2015 Santo Niño Fluvial Float of Samar; Sagayan Festival of Datu Piang Maguindanao; Sakuting Festival of Dolores, Abra
2014 Bambanti festival of Isabela; Utanon festival of Dalaguete, Cebu; Indayog ti Sabsabong of Baguio City
2013 Bahandi Han Eastern Visayas of Alang-Alang, Leyte; Balinali Sang Gadung of Mangudadatu, Maguindanao; Gak't A Kastili sa Banobo of Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao
2012 Pamulinawen (Laoag, Ilocos Norte); Ang Lingganay (Alang-alang, Leyte); Sagayan Fiesta (Parang, Maguindanao)
2011 Biday a Pinangasturian (Buluan, Maguindanao); Kumpit sa Kutawato (Cotabato City); Singkaban Fiesta (Bulacan)
2010 Kanggulagna sa Maguindanao (Cotabato City); Bahandi Han Dagat (Tanauan, Leyte); Kagkawing sa Maguindanao (Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao)
2009 Abel Iloko (Laoag, Ilocos Norte); Lemba (Cotabato); Dinagyang (La Paz Iloilo)
2008 Kalesa - Pamulinawen (Laoag); Peacock - Boling Boling (Catabauan, Quezon); Sinulog (Cebu)
2007 Guinakit of Sultan Kudarat, Shariff Kabunsuan; Disposorio Festival of Hagonoy, Bulacan; Iloilo City: The Next Big Thing of Iloilo Dinagyang
2006 Biag-Ni-Lam-Ang of Laoag City; The Sabutan Rainbow Parrot Fish of Palanan, Isabela; Boling-Boling Festival of Catanauan, Quezon
2005 Sabutan Festival of Isabela; Paradise Found of Baguio City; Idiay Bangir of Laoag City
2004 Tawid (A Legacy) of Laoag City; Let Thousands of Flowers Bloom More Than The Usual of Baguio City; Kanggunina of South Cotabato

Reyna ng Aliwan

2015 Stephanie Joy Abellanida-Midsayap-
2014 Steffi Rose Aberasturi-Cebu
2013 Jamie Herrell-Cebu (she became Miss Philippines Earth 2014 and Miss Earth 2014)
2012 Angeli Dione Gomez-Cebu (she became Mutya ng Pilipinas 2012 and Tourism International Miss Tourism International 2012-2013)
2011 Rogelie Catacutan-Cebu
2010 Rizzini Alexis Gomez-Cebu (she became Mutya ng Pilipinas 2012 and Tourism International Miss Tourism International 2012-2013)
2009 Sian Elizabeth Maynard-Cebu
2008 Mary Jean Lastimosa-Davao
2007 Mary Jane dela Cruz-Bulacan (she became Miss Universe Philippines 2014 and Top 10 semifinalist for Miss Universe 2014)
2006 Vera Eumee Reiter-Baguio
2005 Syrel Aubrey Amazona-Baguio
2004 Jasmin Versoza-Laoag

 

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