Festivals in the Philippines offer people a chance to exhibit
their rich culture and pay homage to the history and patron
saints. They are vibrant, big, and celebrated with a lot of pomp
and show. No wonder, each province has its own Filipino
Fiesta that they are very proud of. Tourists from all over the
world visit the Philippines not just to see its beautiful beaches
and breath-taking sights, but also to experience the country’s
grand festivals that, without a doubt, make it more fun in the
Philippines. The festivals in the Philippines are one of the main
reasons travellers visit the country. Because of the colorful
costumes, fun activities, and electrifying festival dances in the
Philippines, travellers can’t help but join the party.
Beat,
Bloom
Action!
Long before the different forms of theater we enjoy today,
like straight plays and musicals largely influenced by the
West, the Philippines has had many types of theater through
the years. It’s a rich performing arts tradition – from folk
legends passed down through generations to intellectual
debates as performance art; from pagan practices to the
deeply religious celebrations influenced by years of
colonization, here’s a look back through the colorful history
and evolution of theater in the Philippines.
PHILIPPINE FESTIVALS
THEATRICAL FORM
Moro-Moro
Panagbenga Festival
Also known as the Floral Festival is a month-long
flower festival held in Baguio every year. The phrase
comes from the Kankanaey language and means
"blooming season." The event, which takes place in
February, was developed as a tribute to the city's
flowers and as a method to recover from the
devastation caused by the earthquake that struck
Luzon in 1990. The festival features floats that are
mostly covered with flowers, similar to those seen in
the Rose Parade in Pasadena. The festival also
involves street dancing, which is inspired by the
Bendian, an Ibaloi celebration dance from the
Cordilleras, and is performed by dancers dressed in
flower-themed costumes.The month-long festival
starts at the 1st day of the month of February, with
an opening activities organized by the City
government and private sectors.
The earliest known form of organized theatre in the
Philippines, moro-moro, also known as comedia,
was founded by Spanish monks. Apart from epic
recitations, whatever indigenous theatrical forms
may have existed before to the arrival of the Spanish
were eliminated in order to aid the spread of
Christianity. The Moros y Cristianos were once one
of the most popular styles of theater in the
Philippines, which is not surprising given the
country's 300-year span under Spanish control.
Moro-moro is a Spanish-influenced street drama
that frequently lasted several days and featured both
secular themes such as love and vengeance, as well
as the religious war between Christians and Moors.
Sinulog Festival
Senakulo
Cebu has an annual religious and cultural
celebration. The festival is regarded to be the
Philippines' first and most well-known event,
attracting between 1 and 2 million tourists from all
over the country each year and providing travelers
with the opportunity to join Cebu tours and discover
the province's various attractions. Sinulog is derived
from the Cebuano term "sulog," which means "like
water current movement" and describes the Sinulog
dance's forward-backward motion. The Grand
Street Parade, which is Sinulog's main event, usually
begins at 8 or 9 a.m. on the third Sunday of January.
Senakulo is a statewide festival that aids faithful
locals in reliving biblical events related to Jesus
Christ's life, trials, and final sacrifice. It was called
after the Upper Room (Cenacle), where the Last
Supper is said to have taken place. Senakulo is an
important part of Filipino culture, but it is not a
uniquely Filipino event. In actuality, Senakulo is
merely the Filipino version of the Catholic tradition
recognized around the world as Passion Play.
The senakulo, or Passion Play, is another religiously
inspired performance art. This is a portrayal of Jesus
Christ's life and death that is typically performed as
a community activity during the Lenten season.