ALIWAN FIESTA '09 : One beat, one vision, one nation

MANILA, Philippines – Festive tradition and indigenous culture fused together as participants in this year’s Aliwan Fiesta redefined streetdancing as an art form, steeped in pride of place and history in a five-hour dance showdown at the Aliw Theater Complex in Pasay City and Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

Buyogan festival of Abuyog, Leyte capped a winning streak at the Sinulog and Pintados festivals as it bested 19 other contingents for the million-peso grand prize Saturday night. 

Tribu Kasag of Banate, Iloilo, representing the Kasadyaan festival, emerged a close second, with Tribu Paghidaet’s portrayal of the Dinagyang coming in third. 

Runner-up honors went to Siloy sa Alcoy representing Sinulog; Dulag, Leyte’s Karatong; Candaba, Pampanga’s Ibon-Ebon; San Juan, Batangas’ Lambayok, General Santos City’s Kalilangan; Davao’s Kadayawan; and Masbate’s Lapay Bantigue.

Laoag City’s Pamulinawen festival, in turn, scored its second straight victory in the float design competition with its entry “Abel Iloko: Woven and Worn.” 

Cotabato’s “Lemba” took second place, with the Dinagyang float copping third place. Runner-up honors were given to floats depicting Parang Maguindanao’s “Limbonan;” Baguio’s “Pangbenga;”   Candaba’s “Ibon-Ebon Wetlands;”   Malapatan, Saranggani’s “pakaradyan;” San Juan, Batangas’ “Lambanugan;” Shariff Kabunsuan’s “Kaguinakit Ta Laya;” and Mabalacat, Pampanga’s “Aeta.”

Adding color and glitter to the awarding ceremonies was the coronation of Sian Elizabeth Maynard of Cebu City as this year’s Aliwan Festival Queen. The 21-year-old European Studies graduate – who is half Filipina, half-British – edged out Romarie Ivy Cunanan of General Santos City, Aliah Heitz of Davao, Parul Framil Shah of Baguio, and Kate Lao of Laoag. Maynard was also named Best in Long Gown, with Shah as Best in Swimsuit and Lao as Best in Talent.  

Anne Camille del Rosario of Pasig’s Pakalog festival and Stephanie Rae Paras of the Ibon-Ebon festival of Candaba, Pampanga received awards for Best Festival Costume.