By Francis on Sunday, 17th April 2011
Once again, the recently concluded Aliwan Festival 2011 on Saturday has displayed spectacular performances from the contingents coming from the different regions of the Philippines.
Thousands of spectators gathered all over the famous Quirino Grandstand near the Manila Hotel and in the Aliw Theater besides the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to witness this year’s colorful event themed: Aliwan Festival 2011 – The Philippines’ Festivals of Champion. People coming from different places started to fill the venue at about 2pm in the afternoon to make sure they can get their seats on the Grandstand where the stage is all set.
At a park fronting the Manila Hotel, the contingents began to rehearse and complete their colorful costumes, wherein hundreds of amateur and professional photographers are busy taking pictures from the different lovely participants with their costumes. You can actually feel the anticipation before start of the program because of the continuing arrival of the people who desire to witness the event, which is composed of the parade of Floats, street dancing competitions and the beautiful muses competing for this year Reyna Ng Aliwan (Festival Queen).
The contingents started to assemble from the entrance point before 4pm wherein they expect the program to start on time. Their also guests politics from different regions and prominent personalities as members of the panel of judges. The event was actually broadcast live by different television stations and sponsored by the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC). Right after the opening remarks, the first participating group started to display their performance at the Quirino Grandstand, which is the first judging area, and after each group performances, the floats are parading next that truly highlighted the unique artisanship of the designers.
After performing in the designated area fronting the judges, the contingents then proceed to parade going to the Aliw Theater where thousands of spectators are also waiting their final showdown there. Right after the completion of the competitions, the awarding ceremony was followed declaring this year’s winners.
The Reyna Ng Aliwan winner is Rogelie Catacutan who hails from Cebu, while se Christine Kate Adi from Baguio City is the first runner up. The winner of the Best in Festival Costume is the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival. The winner of the Best Float is the Biday a Pinangasturian float from Buluan, Maguindanao, followed by first runner up Cotabato City’s Kumpit sa Kutawato float and second runner up Bulacan’s Singkaban float.
And of course, as what most people expected, the Dinagyang Festival champion, Tribu Pan-ay from Iloilo City once again won the street dancing competition two in a row, to again grab the prize amounting to one million pesos. Next to them is also the group from Zarraga in Iloilo, the Kasadyahan Festival champion Tribu Pan-tat winning the second prize award followed by the third placer Surallah, South Cotabato’s Lembuhong Festival.
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