The colors of the wind

MANILA, Philippines - Innovative floats that reflect regional pride will be on display as the nation’s most popular festival floats converge in this year’s Aliwan Fiesta on April 25, starting 4 p.m., at the Aliw Theater, CCP Complex. The parade will traverse Roxas Boulevard en route to Quirino Grandstand, where the awarding ceremonies will be held.

Aliwan Fiesta organizers will award half-a-million pesos to the grand prize winner of the float competition, thus the county’s finest artisans are out to mine local folklore and indigenous traditions in crafting the mammoth full-size mobile dioramas. The event is expected to draw tourists to the highly colorful cultural event produced by Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), in cooperation with the cities of Manila and Pasay. 

Designs will make use of local fabrics, decorative weaving, paper sculpture, and various forms of folk art arrayed in vibrant colors, along with agricultural produce, plus regional flora and fauna. 

Contingents from Mindanao will make use of Okkil, originally from the middle-eastern Islamic art of the Umayyad dynasty in the eighth century, which will lend a whole repertory of folk motif to carved, woven and brass-cast pieces.   

Now on its seventh year, Aliwan Fiesta is supported by Smart Communications, Unilab, Tanduay, Unilever, Mr Donut, Alaska, Coca-Cola, Ensure, M. Lhuillier, Mabuhay Manor, and Liwanag Candles. For details, call 832-6125, e-mail siarcega@mbcradio.net or visit www.aliwanfiesta.com.ph