PISTANG PINOY:PISTANG PINOY:an Overview of an Overview of Philippine FestivalsPhilippine FestivalsRiya Brigino LopezRiya Brigino Lopez

Prepared for the participants of the 8Prepared for the participants of the 8thth seminar seminar workshop on DOT’s Tunay na Pyestang Pinoyworkshop on DOT’s Tunay na Pyestang Pinoy

May 7-9, 2008/ Balibago, Angeles CityMay 7-9, 2008/ Balibago, Angeles City

7,100 islands7,100 islands7,100 more festivals7,100 more festivals

……and the number is still and the number is still growinggrowing……

ClassificationClassificationof festivals/celebrations based on of festivals/celebrations based on

cultural traditionscultural traditions

1.ANIMISTIC

celebrations flowered before the arrival of the Western powers and still exists today

2. CHRISTIAN

celebrations introduced during the Spanish colonial period, adopted, transformed from the 16th century to the present

cont. classification of festivals…cont. classification of festivals…

3. MUSLIM celebrations and or festivals developed after Islam’s arrival in the 14th century and

have been observed until now

cont. classification of festivals…cont. classification of festivals…

4. SECULAR

festivals/celebrations started during the American colonial period and has since been multiplied to thousands

cont. classification of festivals…cont. classification of festivals…

samples of ANIMISTIC celebration

1. Cañao (Cordillera)

celebration in the form of rituals as thanksgiving and or celebration of rites of passage

Purpose: promotion of the welfare of the community, survival, harmony among settlers

2. BUKLOG (Subanons of Northwestern in Mindanao) whole day celebration that involves ancient ritual to honor the spirits: malengma (spirit of the water); mamanwa (spirit of the forest);manising palingkitan (spirit of the mountain)

purpose: appease or thank the spirits for good harvest

cont. sample of ANIMISTIC celebration

Buklog features a platform of about 15 feet high. It is built on the spot chosen by baylan (native priestess)

samples of feasts or celebrations among Islamized groups

1.HARI RAYA POASA

celebration at the end of the feasting month of Ramadan. Begins with a ritual of cleansing.

2. HARI RAYA RADJ

celebration after the completion of pilgrimage to Mecca

cont. samples of feasts or celebrations among Islamized groups

3. MAULOD EN NABI

celebration of the birth of the

Prophet Mohammed

cont. samples of feasts or celebrations among Islamized groups

sample of pre-Islamic festivities

Kalilang sa Tonong (Maranao) held every April in Marawi and includes fluvial parades singing and playing of indigenous instruments

purpose: ask the spirit of water for a bountiful harvest

It also includes

KASHAWING, a ritual held to ensure good harvest

samples of celebrations among Christianssamples of celebrations among Christians

CHRISTMASCHRISTMAS

- - Misa de GalloMisa de Gallo

- pastores- pastores

- panunuluyan- panunuluyan

- maytinis - maytinis

- Tatlong Hari- Tatlong Hari

- others- others

Lenten RitesLenten Rites - panata- panata - pabasa, pasyon- pabasa, pasyon - caridad- caridad - sinakulo- sinakulo - osana- osana - paghuhugas ng paa- paghuhugas ng paa - siete palabras- siete palabras - others- others

LET US REVIEW…LET US REVIEW… 1. FESTIVALS/ CELEBRATIONS/ RITUALS ARE1. FESTIVALS/ CELEBRATIONS/ RITUALS ARE

HELD EVEN BEFORE WESTERN HELD EVEN BEFORE WESTERN COLONIZATIONCOLONIZATION

2. ALL CULTURES HAVE SPECIFIC FORMS 2. ALL CULTURES HAVE SPECIFIC FORMS OF CELEBRATIONS OF CELEBRATIONS

3. THE ANIMISTIC, MUSLIM and Christian feasts ARE 3. THE ANIMISTIC, MUSLIM and Christian feasts ARE DEEPLY ROOTED TO THE CULTURE OF THE DEEPLY ROOTED TO THE CULTURE OF THE COMMUNITY and held in response to the needs COMMUNITY and held in response to the needs of the community (not only material needs but of the community (not only material needs but spiritual as well)spiritual as well)

4. Celebrations are not whimsically created but 4. Celebrations are not whimsically created but

consciously held to: consciously held to: a. promote the welfare of the communitya. promote the welfare of the community

c. social harmony of each tribal communityc. social harmony of each tribal communityb. promote political integrityb. promote political integrity

d. honor and or appease the spirits d. honor and or appease the spirits (water, sky, forest and other elements) (water, sky, forest and other elements) for bountiful harvest, guidance and protection for bountiful harvest, guidance and protection

e. ask permission or invoke spirits fore. ask permission or invoke spirits for guidance guidance

cont. classification of festivals…cont. classification of festivals…

4. SECULAR

festivals/celebrations started during the American colonial period and has since been multiplied to thousands

Secular celebrations proliferated during the American period

Nature and Purpose

- foundation of the province

- promotion of the place as a tourist destination

- promote the main product of the place

- highlight the unique cultural traditions and customs

- highlight historical events / heroes etc.

- highlight achievements in the arts and other fields

- honor and reverence for the environment

For the last 15 years or so “agro-For the last 15 years or so “agro-cultural festival” has mushroomedcultural festival” has mushroomedincessantlyincessantly

The rising number of festivals centers The rising number of festivals centers on sacred images (though incidental on sacred images (though incidental at times) is very alarmingat times) is very alarming

Other SAMPLES OF SECULAROther SAMPLES OF SECULARFESTIVALFESTIVAL

National Arts Festival – nationwide National Arts Festival – nationwide celebration every Februarycelebration every February

National Heritage Month National Heritage Month

Independence Day celebrationIndependence Day celebration

Arts Festival (music, theater, dance etc.)Arts Festival (music, theater, dance etc.)

Cuerdas nin Kagabsan: Cuerdas nin Kagabsan: Strings of UnityStrings of UnityFirst International Rondalla FestivalFirst International Rondalla FestivalFeb. 8-14, 2004, Bicol RegionFeb. 8-14, 2004, Bicol Region

National and Foreign ParticipantsNational and Foreign Participants(Russia, Israel, U.S., Mexico, Australia etc.)(Russia, Israel, U.S., Mexico, Australia etc.)

Outreach PerformanceOutreach Performance

OUTREACH PERFORMANCES

Some popular festivalsSome popular festivals

Ati-Atihan of Kalibo

Pahiyas Festival

MASSKARA FESTIVAL

(Bacolod, Negros Occidental)

KADAYAWAN FESTIVAL

(DAVAO City)

PANAGBENGA (Baguio City, Benguet)

CURRENT Challenges in Creating a Festival /Event

1. Significance

2. Color

3. Symbols

4. Exuberance

5. Timing

6. Rhythm/Sounds

7. Variety of events

8. Magnitude of events

9. Marketing and promotion opportunities (media etc.)

10. Profitability (not just money but other resources as well)

How to create a festival that will be at par with the existing ones in terms of :

MEANING andMEANING and symbolism symbolism

Color, Color, exuberanceexuberance and and pageantry pageantry

ANTIQUES/Pakulo

Ingenuity /CreativityIngenuity /Creativity

BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF ALLBIGGEST CHALLENGE OF ALL

How to arrest the seemingly How to arrest the seemingly homogeneity of the festivals all homogeneity of the festivals all

over the countryover the country

How to arrest the proliferation of How to arrest the proliferation of the “culture of competition” being the “culture of competition” being

espoused by many festivalsespoused by many festivals

To be able to confront these To be able to confront these challenges it is crucial to challenges it is crucial to conduct a comprehensive conduct a comprehensive

cultural researchcultural research

it is the responsibility of the it is the responsibility of the festival managers in cooperation festival managers in cooperation with other stakeholders to plan with other stakeholders to plan and create a significant festival and create a significant festival

or celebration or celebration

a significant festival starts witha significant festival starts witha sensible and research based a sensible and research based

conceptconcept

a sensible concept could be derived from…a sensible concept could be derived from…

a.a. needs and aspirations of any given communityneeds and aspirations of any given community

g. traditional creative expressionsg. traditional creative expressions

f.f. myths, legends, folktalesmyths, legends, folktales

e.e. identity of the people and placeidentity of the people and place

b.b. history, origin and vision of the placehistory, origin and vision of the place

d.d. distinct culture of the communitydistinct culture of the community

h.h. advocacyadvocacy

IT IS HIGH TIME TO PLAN A IT IS HIGH TIME TO PLAN A MORE SOULFUL CELEBRATIONMORE SOULFUL CELEBRATION

LET US START BY ASKING LET US START BY ASKING WHY ARE WE HOLDING THE WHY ARE WE HOLDING THE

FESTIVAL IN THE FIRST FESTIVAL IN THE FIRST PLACE…PLACE…

After all, FESTIVAL is NOT just about After all, FESTIVAL is NOT just about pageantry, NOT just about winning a pageantry, NOT just about winning a

competition but more of a competition but more of a

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITYSOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

FESTIVAL SHOULD MEAN MORE TO THE FESTIVAL SHOULD MEAN MORE TO THE SOCIETY WHERE IT EMERGESSOCIETY WHERE IT EMERGES

SSAALLAAMMAATT PPOO!!