Aliwan 2009 - Philippine Festivals

A mashup of some of the participants of the Aliwan Fiesta 2009 - a collection of Philippine Festivals from all the regions of the country- a proud testament to the multicultural heritage of the Philippines as well as proof that Filipinos do know how to throw the best party in the whole of Asia!

Manila's Aliwan Festival 2009 - Festivals of the Philippines

Start:	Apr 24, '09 08:00a
End:	Apr 25, '09
Location:	Aliwan Theatre, Pasay City to Quirino Grandstand, Manila

The biggest festival in Manila is set as the 7th edition of the Aliwan Festival 2009 is around the corner and will be celebrated this coming April 23 to 25, 2009 with lots of fun and excitement. The Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) is now on high gear as they prepare the 7th edition of the Aliwan Fiesta 2009. There are lots of activities that are lined up in this year Aliwan Festival 2009. It will feature street dance competitions, float design and the Festival Queen (Reyna ng Aliwan) where these events are the highlights of the celebration.

The three day celebration of the Aliwan Festival 2009 will attract local and foreign visitors because they will see Filipino craftsmanship and ingenuity. Aliwan Festival is a festival that merge all the popular festivals in the Philippines in one single event. Different Regions and Provinces around the country will display products, craftsmanship, culture and show their most innovative ideas.

In the 7th Edition of the Aliwan Festival 2009, there are more than 3,000 dancers, musicians, craftsmen, and even acrobats that will compete in this celebration for streetdancing, float design, and the search for Reyna ng Aliwan in their colorful costume and beautiful smile.

Here are the list of contingents in the Aliwan Festival 2009. This list is still unofficial.

1. Lakbayaw of Tondo, Manila
2. Pakalog Festival of Santolan, Pasig
3. Panagbenga Festival, Baguio City
4. Pamulenawen - Laoag City
5. Ibon Ebon of Candaba, Pampanga
6. Disposorio Festival of Hagonoy, Bulacan
7. Luyang Dilaw of Marilao Bulacan
8. Boling boling Festival - Catanuan, Quezon
9. Fiesta de Toros of Nasugbu, Batangas
10. Lapay Bantigue Festival of Masbate city
11. Pulang Angui of Polangue Albay
12. Sinulog Festival of Cebu City
13. Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City
14. Kasag Festival of Banate, Iloilo
15. Karatong Festival of Dulag, Leyte
16. Buyugan Festival of Abuyog Leyte
17. Kadayawan Festival - Davao city
18. Tuna Festival of General Santos City
19. Halad Festival of Midsayap, Cotabato
20. Kalilangan Festival of General Santos City
21. Buklod Festival - Parang, Shariff Kabunsuan
22. Kalilintad Festival of Mamasapano
23. Samba de Regatta

The Aliwan Festival 2009 schedule of activities:

Streetdance Forum (CCP Silangan Hall)

* One Town, One Product Shoppers Bazaar
* Band Concert and Pasakalye (Aliw Theater outdoor stage - 7:00 p.m.)

April 24

* One Town, One Product Shoppers Bazaar
* Aliwan Festival Queen Talent Competition (Star Theater, 1:30 p.m.)
* Aliwan Festival Queen Pageant Night (Aliw Theater outdoor stage - 7:00 p.m.)

April 25

* One Town, One Product Shoppers Bazaar
* Grand Parade (Aliw Theater Complex to Quirino Grandstand - 4:00 p.m.)
* Awarding Ceremonies (Quirino Grandstand - 9:00 p.m.)

Philippine Crucifixions 2009- Sta. Lucia and San Pedro Cutud, Pampanga - THE MUSIC VIDEO!

Actual crucifixions and self-flagellation in the streets of San Fernando, Pampanga- a city about 2-3 hours north of Manila during Good Friday. The San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites (alternatively known as Maleldo) is the Holy Week re-enactment of the passion and death of Christ and takes place in an open field on the outskirts of San Fernando City, Pampanga in the Philippines. Penitents (mostly men, although there were rare instances of women) are nailed to a cross using 5 cm stainless steel nails. The Catholic Church does not sanction the crucifixions and does not endorse them, however, thousands still descend to Pampanga to watch these rites being performed for the past decades. Whilst San Pedro Cutud is the most famous (and prominently displayed on foreign and local media) there are also two other smaller sites within the vicinity of the city that perform similar activities. Penitents whipping themselves and street-plays are are also widespread in the streets of the city.

Pictures at http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-242027
CNN version at http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-241977

Philippine Crucifixions 2009 as seen on CNN iReport and HL_N

Actual crucifixions and self-flagellation in the streets of San Fernando, Pampanga- a city about 2-3 hours north of Manila during Good Friday. The San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites (alternatively known as Maleldo) is the Holy Week re-enactment of the passion and death of Christ and takes place in an open field on the outskirts of San Fernando City, Pampanga in the Philippines. Penitents (mostly men, although there were rare instances of women) are nailed to a cross using 5 cm stainless steel nails. The Catholic Church does not sanction the crucifixions and does not endorse them, however, thousands still descend to Pampanga to watch these rites being performed for the past decades. Whilst San Pedro Cutud is the most famous (and prominently displayed on foreign and local media) there are also two other smaller sites within the vicinity of the city that perform similar activities. Penitents whipping themselves and street-plays are are also widespread in the streets of the city.

Pictures at http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-242027
CNN version at http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-241977

Filmed and edited by Ryan Buaron and Scott Allford

Watch out for the Extended Play version with music. :)

The Pampanga Crucifixions 2009

The San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites is a Holy Week re-enactment of Christ’s Passion and Death which takes place in Barangay San Pedro Cutud, City of San Fernando, Pampanga in the Philippines.

It includes a passion play culminating with the actual nailing of at least three penitents to a wooden cross atop the makeshift Calvary.

Events

Every year on Good Friday or the Friday before Easter a dozen or so penitents - mostly men but with the occasional woman - are taken to a rice field in the barrio of San Pedro Cutud, 3km (2 miles) from the proper of City of San Fernando, Pampanga and nailed to a cross using two-inch (5 cm) stainless steel nails that have been soaked in alcohol to disinfect them. The penitents are taken down when they feel cleansed of their sin. Other penitents flagellate themselves using bamboo sticks tied to a rope.

2008 Crucifixion

On March 21, 2008, Pampanga carpenter Ruben Enage, 47, was nailed to a wooden cross on Good Friday for the 22nd time, since his first in 1985. 25 other penitents, including two women, were nailed on wooden cross on Good Friday in San Pedro Cutud. Central Luzon crucifixion reenactments were also held yearly, in Angeles City, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga, and in Bulacan.

Criticism

The Catholic Church does not approve of the crucifixions and does not endorse them. The media has also turned against the rites, calling them "pagan and barbaric" but generally admitting they are still a good show.

Crucifixion at San Pedro Cutud, San Fernando Pampanga, Farm Barbie at Batangas, Sombrero/Maricaban Island Hop

Start:	Apr 10, '09 04:00a
Location:	San Pedro Cutud, San Fernando Pampanga; Batangas Farm, Sombrero/Maricaban

From wiki:

The San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites is a Holy Week re-enactment of Christ’s Passion and Death which takes place in Barangay San Pedro Cutud, City of San Fernando, Pampanga in the Philippines.

It includes a passion play culminating with the actual nailing of at least three penitents to a wooden cross atop the makeshift Calvary.

Events

Every year on Good Friday or the Friday before Easter a dozen or so penitents - mostly men but with the occasional woman - are taken to a rice field in the barrio of San Pedro Cutud, 3km (2 miles) from the proper of City of San Fernando, Pampanga and nailed to a cross using two-inch (5 cm) stainless steel nails that have been soaked in alcohol to disinfect them. The penitents are taken down when they feel cleansed of their sin. Other penitents flagellate themselves using bamboo sticks tied to a rope.

2008 Crucifixion

On March 21, 2008, Pampanga carpenter Ruben Enage, 47, was nailed to a wooden cross on Good Friday for the 22nd time, since his first in 1985. 25 other penitents, including two women, were nailed on wooden cross on Good Friday in San Pedro Cutud. Central Luzon crucifixion reenactments were also held yearly, in Angeles City, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga, and in Bulacan.

Criticism

The Catholic Church does not approve of the crucifixions and does not endorse them. The media has also turned against the rites, calling them "pagan and barbaric" but generally admitting they are still a good show.

No Reservations: Anthony Bourdain does Philippines!

From Anthony Bourdain's blog:

Hierarchy of Pork

By Anthony Bourdain on February 16, 2009 6:55 PM | Permalink | 493 Comments

I'm very nervous about tonight's Philippines show.

I'm all too aware of the fact that the country is made up of over seven THOUSAND islands and that I visited exactly two of them. The food is intensely regional ... I mean, even the difference between the food in Manila and Pampanga -- only a couple of hours away --is striking. So I missed ... a lot.