FESTIVALS AND RITUALS:

REPRESENTATIONS OF PHILIPPINE ART

AMBROZE LEXTER G. CUYOS

12-EXCELLENCE
CORART
 LUZON:
Pamulinawen Festival
(Laoag, Ilocos Norte)
What is it?

■ The Pamulinawen Festival is held every first

week of the February. It is the Laoag City’s
entry for the Best Tourism Practices Contest
of the Department of Tourism. The word
Laoag means "the place of light or clarity" in
Ilokano and now, Laoag City is a 1st class city
in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines.
Song and Dance
■ There is a part of parade where the soldiers
are in gala attire with marching band and
majorettes to entertain the crowds.
Visual arts
■ The kalesa parade is also one of the much-
anticipated activity in the Pamulinawen
festival wherein horses are being dressed and
decorated with different themes made of
indigenous materials.
Visual arts
■ Childhood games or “Ay-ayam: Kastoy kami
idi, kasano kayo ita?” to be participated in by
city employees and officials give enjoyment to
the residents as they reminisce their childhood
sans gadgets and the presence of modern
technology.
Food
■ The festival showcases the Laoagueño food
which is prepared using the indigenous
kitchen belongings such as “ Banag, Dalikan,
Tinudok, and Silyasi”. During the Festival,
everybody can taste the food prepared and
presented by the locals.
Design
■ It’s actually an open invitation. It was very
colorful because of the beautiful costumes
worn by the dancers.
 VISAYAS:
Masskara Festival
(Bacolod, Negros Occidental)
What is it?
■ The most famous festival in Bacolod, the city
known across the Philippines as “The City of
Smiles”. Every year different barangays (the
smallest administrative division in the Philippines)
of Bacolod take part in street dance competitions
where participants put on colorful masks—“kara”
is taken from the Spanish cara (face) and so
MassKara literally means “multiple faces”. .
History
■ The Masskara festival was first conceived in 1980 to add
color and gaiety to the Bcolod City's celebration of its
Charter Day anniversary, on 19 October. The symbol of the
festival - a smiling mask - was adopted by the organizers to
dramatize the Negrenses happy spirit, despite periodic
economic downturns in the sugar industry.
Fashion
■ There is a part of the festival called “MassKara Fashion
Week” which is a complete package for any fashion lover
because, in this event, you will see the newest trends from
top class fashion designers. The tale doesn’t end here
because the beautiful models are also the driving force
behind the excitement of the crowd.
Dance
■ The dance is a traditional type of dance wherein it
showcases the culture and tradition. The mood is
lively as it showcases the joy and happiness of the
locals that is portrayed by the dancers.
Design
■ The design of the festival is focused on the smile
that is in a masskara. It is colorful and beautiful
mostly displayed on the mask. Also you can see the
creativity of design in each masskara and the details
in each works.
Architecture
■ The traditional Masskara festival was usually done
in the barrios where the Spanish culture is very
dominant so it is originally celebrated in Spanish
Colonial Architecture but today, it is celebrated in
the city as it was innovated to be more modern.
Visual Arts
■ Aside from the usual MassKara Street Dance and
Arena Competition, the Electric MassKara is
essentially a night version of the MassKara parade
where performers don LED lighted costumes and
props and feature float and bands that are out of this
world. The Electric MassKaras is held in Lacson
Street, which is the tourist strip of the city, where the
street turns into a party area at night.
MINDANAO:
Kadayawan Festival
(Davao City)
What is it?
■ The Kadayawan Festival is an annual festival in
the city of Davao in the Philippines. Its name
derives from the friendly greeting "Madayaw",
from the Dabawenyo word "dayaw", meaning
good, valuable, superior or beautiful. The festival
is a celebration of life, a thanksgiving for the gifts
of nature, the wealth of culture, the bounties of
harvest and serenity of living. It is held every
third week of August.
Dance
Indak-Indak Sa Kadalanan
■ It is an exciting street dancing competition
celebrated during Kadayawan Festival that
takes over Davao’s major roads before a final
face-off near Rizal Park.
Food
Hudyakaan Sa Kadayawan
■ Setting up shop in Rizal Park, this three-week long food
and beverage bazaar is the perfect place to refuel once the
final clash of Indak-Indak Sa Kadalanan is complete.
Indulge in local delights like kinilaw (raw fish) and
ginanggang (grilled banana), or simply enjoy a feast for the
senses as you wander the seemingly endless rows of
stallholders.
Visual Arts
Pamulak Sa Kadayawan
■ Finish off your festivities with a tribute to the season’s
other major spoils at Pamulak Sa Kadayawan. A colorful
way to bring the celebrations to a close, this grand, flower-
themed parade sees Davao’s major thoroughfares flooded
with blooms as elaborate floats pass by.
Visual Arts
Lumadnong Gama
■ It is also celebrated during Kadayawan featuring artefacts,
products and cuisines from the region’s 10 tribes, this
educational showcase is the perfect introduction to the
festival’s program of events.
Architecture
The Kadayawan Village
■ Can be seen in Kadayawan Village at Magsaysay Park
during the jovial week-long festival. Intriguing and
extraordinary, the village gives you a preview of how
Davao’s 11 tribes live harmoniously and peacefully. The
village lets you witness cultural performances and savor
tasteful dishes from the 11 indigenous tribes.
SOURCES
■ Guide, P. (2019, October 14). Laoag Festivals and Events. Retrieved November 1,
2019, from https://www.philippinesinsider.com/luzon/laoag/laoag-festivals-and-
events/
■ Guia, J. (2012, May 22). Pamulinawen Festival. Retrieved November 1, 2019, from
https://www.vigattintourism.com/tourism/articles/Pamulinawen-Festival.
■ Joy, C. (2018, February 10). Feature: Laoag City showcases Ilocano pride in
‘Pamulinawen' Festival 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2019, from
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1004981.
■ Reyes, G. (2019, October 5). MassKara Festival 2019: Ultimate Guide for First-
Timers. Retrieved November 4, 2019, from
https://www.experiencenegros.com/bacolod-masskara-festival/.
■ Aldrich. (2019, July 16). Masskara Festival 2019: 8 reasons why you should go.
Retrieved November 4, 2019, from
https://www.skyscanner.com.ph/news/tips/masskara-festival-2019-8-reasons-why-
you-should-go.
■ Agustine, C. (2019, August 19). Kadayawan Festival 2019. Retrieved November 4,
2019, from https://lovepilipinas.com/event/kadayawan-festival/
■ Inn, P. (2018, September 3). The Ultimate Guide to Davao’s Kadayawan Festival.
Retrieved November 4, 2019, from https://blog.parkinn.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-
davaos-kadayawan-festival/.
■ Carlo, P. (2018, August 29). MassKara Festival 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019,
from https://lovepilipinas.com/event/masskara-festival/.