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| photo by Vincent Angelo Gefes |
One of the most colorful
festivals in the region will take place in the picturesque city of Passi on
Iloilo’s central district from March 9-17, 2013. For the last 13 years, visitors
from all parts of the country make their way through this amazing tattoo
festival annually celebrated as a sign of their cultural identity where inked
creations were revered as an art form and to celebrate alongside their
foundation anniversary as a component city in the Province of Iloilo.
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| photo by Vincent Angelo Gefes |
Pintados de Pasi Festival
highlights with the tribal dance competition where participants paint their
body with elaborate patterns and shapes. The dance is characterized by the
flow, a seamless stream of movements that emphasizes the agility of the upper
body with simultaneous alternating waving
of arms which are the basic movement of the Pintados dance. The dance
involves leaping, turning, jumping and kicking movements of a warrior. They
wear colorful costumes tightly on their bodies. During the dance, drums and
plastic pipes are commonly used. Bamboo poles are also used and pounded with
sticks to keep the beat and to produce musical tones.
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| photo by Vincent Angelo Gefes |
As always, the celebration
will bring a varied program with all kinds of surprises and great live music
await every visitor. Various fun-filled activities are listed up for this 9-day
occasion with outdoor activities that feature traditional games, lots of food
and shopping. With the theme, “Kulturang Passinhon: Balikdon kag Palanggaon,”
this year’s celebration will open on March 9 (Saturday) with the Food Festival
and Beauty and the Beat: A Night of Fashion, Music and Merry-making; March 10
(Sunday) Talent and Festival Attire Competition for Bb. Pintados 2013; March 11
(Monday) Dumog 2013- 2nd Passi City Grappling Tournament; March 13
(Wednesday) Tamiya Forward Mini Race Contest; Mach 14 (Thursday) Pasundayag/
Parade and Opening Program of the 15th Foundation Day Celebration,
Fireworks Display and Handuraw; March 15 (Friday) Karosa Parada and Carabao Painting
Contest, Coronation Night for Bb. Pintados 2013; March 16 (Saturday) Sinadya sa
Suba/ Pinta Lawas and; March 17 (Sunday) Tribe Competition at 8 a.m. and Night
with the Stars.
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| photo by Vincent Angelo Gefes |
The three main
island groups of the Philippines had a strong tattoo tradition. It was already
common even before the archipelago was colonized by Spain. But it is in the
islands of the Visayas where tribesmen wore the most elaborate, intricate and
extensive etchings that led Spanish chroniclers to call the island “La Isla De Los Pintados” or “Islands of the Painted Ones.” It was
said that when Spanish authorities arrived in the island, they were welcomed by
a group of heavily tattooed men.
Tattoos were used on
men to show tribal seniority, accomplishments, age, and power, as well as
acting as talismans in certain cases. It describes their fundamental identity
as tribes-people, headhunters, warriors, and community members. Tattoos were
earned through the passage of rites ceremonies and for accomplishing specific
tasks. Both the men and the women were tattooed, and for a variety of reasons. The
Visayan men were warriors, commonly headhunters with strong, detailed lines on
their chests and heads. The designs or
patterns in their body parts would get more elaborate the more enemies they would
kill. The women have simpler patterns on their arms and wrists and were
regarded as marks of beauty.
Tattooing is still practiced today just
as they were many centuries back. The annual celebration of Pintados de Pasi
Festival serves as the last bastion of this unbroken tradition of tattooing in
Panay.
Passi City is
located along the Iloilo-Capiz National Highway. It is an hour ride from Tagbak
Bus Terminal in Jaro, Iloilo City. For more information, please contact Miss
Mae Pojol-Buenaflor - City Tourism Officer at 09213543537.
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