Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival: A pageantry of dance and drama

Year 2007 marks the 12th year of the joint celebration of the Kasadyaan Festival and the 20th Pintados Festival of Tacloban City. It is now known as the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals. It is celebrated every 29th day of June, the Vesper’s Day of the feast of the Señor Santo Niño de Leyte.

The first Pintados Festival on June 29, 1987 was in memory of the first inhabitants of Tacloban called "Pintados" whose art of body painting amazed the Spaniards. The Visayan men had their bodies tattooed from ankles up to their upper torso and the neck. The braver ones even extended their tattoo marks up to their cheeks, around their eyes and forehead.

The women had their bodies tattooed for aesthetic reasons. Intricate flowers-and-knot designs ran from the front side of their hands to the wrist. Artificial moles were painted on their faces to enhance their beauty.

The first Kasadyaan Festival, on the other hand, was held on June 29, 1996. ‘’Kasadyaan" means merry-making and gaiety, gathering various Leyte municipal festivals in Tacloban to stage a colorful and vibrant dance-drama parade that depicted distinct heritage, culture and folklore.

In combining the two, not only the spirit of camaraderie is enhanced but its spiritual aspect as well.

TWO BECOME ONE

At the recent Pintados–Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals, six municipalities compete for the annual street dancing competition with theme is "Taghoy ng Kalikasan," or ‘’Nature’s wail."

The competing groups included Lingganay Festival from Alangalang, Leyte; Binaybay Festival of Baybay; Tribung Paghida-it Festival of Palo; Buyogan Festival of Abuyog; Pasaka Festival of Tanauan, Leyte; Alikaraw Festival of Hilongos.

Judges included Muhamad Abrar Arifin, Indonesian choreographer and director Armita B. Rufino, president of Filipino Heritage Festival; Prof. Christian Aguado, executive director for Kalimulan Dance Troupe of Mindanao State University (Iligan City) as chairperson; Leticia Tan, DoT regional director (Region 13-Caraga Region) and this writer.

Two-time winner Alikaraw Festival was out to win to claim the grand prize and be declared grand slam winner. But in the end, it was the Buyogan Festival which won the grand prize of R300,000 plus trophy. Its choreographer Victor Hao Cuenco received R10,000 and a trophy.

Other winners include: Alikaraw Festival, second place with choreographer Coby Lenard Abris; and Lingganay Festival, third place, with choreographer Veruel M. Barraza

Buyogan Festival bagged both the Best in Street Dancing and Best in Festival Music awards. Their dance ritual is about the mystical buyog (bee) and about how peaceful settlers benefited from the blessings of a forest.

The Sanggar Tari Rainbow Week Dancers of Indonesia presented a cultural dance ensemble before the winners was declared.

A 15-minute fireworks display courtesy of the Province of Leyte and the Department of Tourism-Region 8 was staged.

BITUIN NG LEYTE

The 3rd Bituin ng Leyte Kasadyaan Festival Queen 2007’ was also held in line with the festival at the Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Plaza in Tacloban City, Leyte.

Unlike other beauty pageants, this was a search for the best lead female dancer who possesses exceptional qualities both in physical attributes and dancing prowess.

Judges included Margaret Nales Wilson, Bb. Pilipinas World 2007 (chairperson); TV reporter Marc Logan, Muhamad Abrar Arifin, Indonesian choreographer and director, and Remy Uy, noted businessman from Tacloban.

Congresswoman Remedios "Matin’’ Loreto-Petilla of the first district of Leyte, gave the welcome address. She was also the chairperson of the PintadosKasadyaan Festival of Festivals 2007, along with Leyte Gov. Jericho "Icot’’ L. Petilla and DoT Region 8 Director Karina Rosa "Karen’’ Santiago-Tiopes.

Voted grand winner was Ariane Topia, a Business Administration graduate from Saint Paul’s Business School. Runners up include Genie Tiu (first), an Maria Christina Villero (second).

The Sanggar Tari Rainbow Week Dancers of Indonesia provided cultural dance ensemble. Six dances were presented by this group of dancers from the various places of Nusantara, Indonesia. Eleven dancers and three musicians participated. A variety of instruments which produced unique percussion sounds represented the cultural diversity of Indonesia.

[ Mindanao State University Wiki ]