It all started in Munich, Germany in 1810 during the wedding of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese. King Maximilian, father of the prince, was overjoyed by the occasion that he prepared a wedding reception for the couple inclusive of horse races, drinking, eating, and dancing.
The festivity turned out to be a huge success, prompting the king to declare a similar celebration annually every October, but this time to encourage his loyal subjects’ desire to party, eat, and drink.
However, in this year’s Octoberfest celebration in Malate, the event has veered away from the original concept with festival activities all done the Filipino way and with the festive atmosphere of a town fiesta.
Spearheaded by the Malate Business Council (MBC), more than 40 member establishments, Malate’s month-long Octoberfest features folkdances by the Philippine Tourism Authority’s Indak Turismo, folksongs by the Philippine Tourism Chorale, arnis demonstrations by the Indigenous Games, Sports, and Athletics Association of the Philippines, and other cultural activities.
“This is a Filipino version of the German Oktoberfest because we are not featuring the “oompapa” music and dance common in the German tradition but instead have folk dances like the tinikling and pandango as well as folksongs like Dandansoy, Usahay, and Pamulinawen,” MBC President Norman Cordon explained.
Fully supported by the City of Manila under Mayor Lito Atienza through Manila Tourism and Cultural Affairs Bureau officer-in-charge Arles Jose Jimenez, Cordon added that big discounts are being given by all of his members to their patrons.
“At R25, our beer would be among the cheapest in our area even as our pulutan costs only a surprising R15 per small plate,” he said.
The reason behind this, the MBC president added, was that any person would be able to partake of almost all the food at a very low cost.
Aside from the city government, logistical support has also been provided by the Department of Tourism with the help of DoT-National Capital Region Director Reynato Chua, PTA General Manager Robert Dean Barbers and Deputy General Manager Engr. Jose Dion Diaz.
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