Manila, Philippines - Tribu Pan-ay of Fort San Pedro National High School won for the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival the P1 million grand prize in the Festival Streetdance Competition of Aliwan Fiesta 2011.
Biday a Pinangasturian, a float made by craftsmen from Buluan, Maguindanao, won first prize in the float design competition, while Rogelie Catacutan, representing the Sinulog Festival of Cebu, was crowned this year’s Festival Queen (Reyna ng Aliwan).
Zarraga, Iloilo’s Tribu Pantat, champions in the Dinagyang-Kasadyahan Festival, garnered second place in the dance competition, with Uswag Surallah Lembuhong Festival of South Cotabato coming in third. Garnering fourth and fifth places, respectively, were the Calacatchara Festival of Calaca, Batangas and the Pandang Gitab Festival of Lights from Oriental Mindoro. Declared runners-up were Pasig’s Pakalog Festival, Baguio City’s Panagbenga, the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival, Sultan Kudarat’s Kalimudan Festival, and the Boling-Boling of Catanauan, Quezon.
Master craftsmen from Cotabato, who executed the Kumpit sa Kutawato, won second place in the float competition with Bulacan’s Singkaban earning third prize. Runners-up were Baguio’s Panagbenga float; the Sarimanok float of Parang, Maguindanao; Batangas’ Calacatchara float; the Kudungan from Sultan Kudarat; the Sinulog float of Cebu; the Abaruray of Quezon; and Tribu Pantat’s Dinagyang-Kasadyahan float.
Among the festival queens, Christine Kate Adi of Baguio won second place; with Dominique Braun of Zarraga, Iloilo, Bernadette Chiu of Bulacana, and Jeremy Jane Evans of Santiago, Isabela as runners-up. Catacutan also won the special award for Best Evening Gown, while Adi was named Best in Swimsuit, with Braun emerging as Best in Talent. The award for Best in Festival Costume went to Samantha Amparo of Iloilo City.
Aliwan Fiesta is an annual project of Manila Broadcasting Company, Star City, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, in cooperation with the cities of Manila and Pasay, and the National Parks Development Committee.