Aliwan Fiesta

Aliwan Festival is one of the most popular festivals in the Philippines. It attracts tourists in their numbers from across the country and the globe.

It is an annual event just like most of the other Philippines festivals, and it is all about celebrating the diverse culture of the locals. The Fiesta brings together multiple festivals to gather in Pasay City. Due to the sheer magnitude of the fiesta, the city throngs with culture enthusiasts and other travelers.

Aliwan Fiesta

Image courtesy of Iana Peralta

Suffice to say, the fiesta is referred to as the ‘Mother of all festivals’, and for good reason. The fiesta not only brings together large numbers of tourists, but it is also an adventure of sorts if the competitions and prize money are anything to go by. It gathers people from all different regions of the country, and it is sort of like a combination of all of the regions’ respective festivals if that makes sense.

Started in 2003, the Fiesta has grown to be a household name and a must-attend for those who love all things cultural. The aim of the Aliwan Festival is to promote the different cultures of the country, not just to its own people, but to tell the story to the rest of the world. And considering just how much the popularity of the Fiesta is increasing each year, it’s safe to say that it’s doing a great job at that.

In fact, the name ‘Aliwan’ translates to entertainment in the local dialect. It is no surprise, therefore, that the fiesta lives up to its name. While at the fiesta, look out for the three categories that it is divided into. These include the Float Parade, the Beauty Pageant as well as the Cultural Street Dance contest.

Image courtesy of July Dominique

Each of the 17 regions of the country can send up to two contingents that represent their culture best, as well as a representing float for the Float Parade, and a contestant for the beauty pageant. But they don’t just choose people at random; in fact, each of the contingents that end up representing their region at the Fiesta was chosen after several elimination cycles at local festivals. Those who wind up at the Fiesta are truly creme de la creme.

The Float Parade is perhaps the most visually exciting part of the festivities. The moving platforms are decorated to represent the culture of their region, and they are absolutely overwhelming in their grandeur and design. The 2019 Parade included miniature houses, shacks, sharks, fruit baskets, and many other incredible designs. See for yourself:

Oh, and those floats are made only from textiles, flowers, produce, and products that are specific for the city they are representing. Which makes them even more impressive!

Another equally visually exciting segment of the festival is Reyna ng Aliwan. The Beauty Pageant gathers some of the most stunning Filipino women from the country, that compete for the title of the most beautiful one. And, the pageant contestants are actually standing on top of the floats of their region, as they are the muses and inspiration behind the designs.

With so many stunning women, the task in front of the judges is an incredibly difficult one. Reyna ng Aliwan actually serves as a great training ground for women who aim to be pageant contestants, and many of them go on to win multiple other beauty contests. The 2013 winner, Jamie Herrell, actually went on to become Miss Earth in 2014, claiming the title of one of the most beautiful women on the planet, and not just in the Philippines.

Image courtesy of July Dominique

The Cultural Street Dance contest is probably the most popular category and is characterized by pomp and color. The dancers perform moves characteristic to their region’s culture and local festivals, during a 2.5-kilometer-long parade from Quirino Grandstand to Aliw Theater grounds. Get to do a jig or two as you join the energetic dancers for the Philippines holiday of a lifetime.

There are several other side activities one can partake in during the festivities. The Fiesta boasts a vast bazaar, where you can buy all sorts of items from the different regions of the country. There’s also a fireworks display, which is entertaining for all festival-goers. And if you’re feeling the spirit of the competition, you can take part in the photography contest, or try your hand in some of the many Filipino street games.

Take time to attend this exciting festival and find out why the Aliwan Festival is considered a prime tourist attraction in all of the Philippines. And you should also know that the spectacular theme park is also in Pasay, the Star City Park. It would be great to check it out or drop by, if you have some spare time when the festivities end.