Iloilo Dinagyang Festival is Aliwan Fiesta grand champion for four straight years!

It's More Fun at Aliwan Fiesta 2013!

Iloilo Dinagyang Festival from Iloilo City once again emerged as champion of Aliwan Fiesta 2013.

This makes Iloilo Dinagyang Festival  Aliwan Fiesta grand champion for 4 straight years!

Kalivungan Festival from Cotabato Province (North) represented by street dancers from the town of Midsayap bagged the 2nd Place with Meguyaya Festival and Padang-Padang Festival for Upi and Parang, Maguindanao, respectively as third and fourth placers.

Now on its 11th edition, Aliwan Fiesta indeed was grander and more fun this year through its tie-up with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), and with the collaboration of the City of Manila, City of Pasay, Cultural Center of the Philippines, and Star City.

Dubbed as the “Mother of all Fiestas,” both local and foreign spectators were able to witness all the major festivals in one sweep at the heart of  Manila. "This benefits short-staying guests who will be able to understand our culture better through this extravaganza,” TPB Chief Operating Officer Domingo Ramon C. Enerio III said.

 Aliwan is a three-day event organized and founded in 2003 by the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC). It has since become a yearly festivity every April, gathering some of the country’s finest craftsmen, performers, and muses vying for the best float, best street dance, and the much-coveted Reyna ng Aliwan.

 Aliwan is one of the highlight tourism activities for April. “There is no doubt Aliwan Fiesta is already one of the events in Manila that people look forward to every year," tourism chief Ramon Jimenez said.

Set from 11 – 13 April 2013, Aliwan showcased a robust regional representation from Aliwan Hall of Famer Dinagyang of Iloilo City, to Sinulog of Cebu City and Panagbenga of Baguio City, to the up-and-coming festivities like the Pakalog Festival of Pasig City; Sambali Cagayana Festival of Cagayan; Alikaraw Festival of Hilongos, Leyte; Padang-Padang Festival of Parang, Shariff Kabunsuan; and Melimud Festival of South Upi, Maguindanao –which will all showcase  the country’s diverse cultures through music, dance, and costumes.

A total of 17 contingents from all over the country participated in this year's streetdancing competition with Mindanao sending the biggest contingent through its six (6) festivals namely, Padang-Padang, Megayuya and Sagayan festivals from Maguindanao, Zamboanga Hermosa Festival from Zamboanga City, Kalivungan Festival of North Cotabato, Kalilangan Festival of General Santos City.

With more than 5,000 participants from all over the country, CCP Complex bustled with local and foreign tourists alike who can feast on a visual extravaganza, regional product bazaar, fashion show, street party, band concert, games, and a fireworks display. 

As a yearly tradition, a grand parade of dancers and floats along Roxas Boulevard starting from the Quirino Grandstand and culminating with a final showdown in front of Star City in the CCP Complex  capped off the three-day event.


“The fiesta is a quintessential Filipino way of celebration, giving a glimpse of the country’s diverse society, cultural heritage, and unparalleled natural bounties. It is one of the blocks upon which we built our being Filipino. In almost every town, province, or city, fiestas serve as their profound way of remembering the blessings of the past years, commemorating historical milestones, and expressing pious devotion to religious images. Thanks to Aliwan Fiesta for making it possible for the traveler to get a feel of the Filipino warmth and catch a glimpse of our festivals in one place for three fun-filled days,” Tourism Secretary Jimenez remarked.

Top Filipino entertainers  provided the live musical entertainment for the three-day Aliwan Fiesta. Aegis, together with YouTube sensations Kimpoy, Jamich, Chicser, Jireh Lim and Moymoy Palaboy,  headlined the Pasakalye concert at the Aliw outdoor stage.

Zoren Legaspi co-hosted the Reyna ng Aliwan pageant on April 12 with reigning Miss Tourism International Rizzini Alexis Gomez, who was also the Aliwan Festival queen in 2010.  JM Guzman and Luke Mejares  provided special numbers.

The awarding ceremonies was opened by a special number arranged by rock guitarist Francis Reyes for Cooky Chua and The Dawn.  Bryan Termulo, Jovit Baldivino and Andrew E also guested with 90.7 Love Radio’s Chris Tsuper and Kristine Dera as hosts. (LEONY R. GARCIA)