Every year in March, the component city of Passi in
Iloilo’s Fourth Congressional District comes alive. This is where the annual
Pintados de Passi Festival is held – an amazing celebration to preserve and
promote its local heritage, celebrated this year on March 12-20.
The special events cater to participants and
supporters that represent all walks of life which enhance and promote the
festival’s mission to bridge gaps and preserve Passinhon culture. The annual
celebration continues to provide an on-going platform to showcase their rich
traditions through dance, music and history that affords their community the
opportunity for expression, growth and appreciation in a supportive and
nurturing environment.
With the theme, “Hirinugyon, Sirinadya, Iririmaw
Taton sa Matam-is nga Siyudad ka Passi,” the festivity will open on March 12
Saturday) with a Food Festival; March 14 (Monday) 18th Cityhood Anniversary
with Pangpagagda at 2 p.m. and the Search for Bb. Pintados 2016 Talents Night –
Passi Social Hall at 7 p.m.; March 15 (Tuesday) Opening Program Parade and
Pasundayag at 8 a.m., Golden Hearts Award and Handuraw: Songs and Dances of the
World – Passi Social Hall at 7 p.m.; March 16 (Wednesday) Tree Planting at 8
a.m., Pasundayag sang Academia 2016 by Academia de San Guillermo – Plaza Paloma
at 7 p.m.; March 17 (Thursday) Montessori Night; March 18 (Friday) Karosa
Parada and Carabao Painting Contest at 7 a.m., Grand Pageant Night, Search for
Bb. Pintados 2016 – Passi Social Hall at 7 p.m.; March 19 (Saturday) TM
Republik Caravan with Sinadya sa Suba at 7 a.m., Pinta Lawas – Plaza Paloma at
7 a.m., All-Star Basketball Tournament – Passi Social Hall at 3 p.m., Search
for Ginoong Pintados 2016 – Plaza Paloma at 6 p.m.; March 20 (Sunday) Tribe
Competition at 8 a.m., Awarding and Fireworks Display – Plaza Paloma at 5 p.m.,
Night with the Stars – Plaza Paloma at 7 p.m.
Pintados de Pasi Festival is regarded as one of the
region’s most prestigious festivals and is consistently mentioned as a
do-not-miss festival in Iloilo. This annual cultural arts event fosters a rich
sense of cultural heritage and awareness. It serves as an outreach event that
attracts attention locally and nationally. For its people, they want to tell a
different story about their place by exploring this dynamic celebration.
Maintaining their cultural integrity is important,
Pintados de Pasi Festival honor their tattooed ancestors such that wearing their
tattoo design during their dance presentations is their great way to show
respect for their traditional culture.
Traditionally, the art of tattooing was part of a
ritual and portrayed elements of achievement and status of the person wearing
the tattoo. Tribal tattoos had profound
personal attachments to them. It symbolized proof of achievement and
protection.
The Pintados in the Visayan culture have a
reverence to some of the features in quite a deep and unique way with some
wearing some of the symbols as a sign of connection or reminder that the symbol
has a special meaning in the life of the wearer.
Commonly done in black ink, the marks are of thick
lines with geometric shapes and beautiful pattern work exposed in the male
shoulder---often considered the most appropriate place for wearing it. The
uniform arrangements of the zigzag lines, curves make the entire tribal tattoo
of the Visayan Pintado look spectacular. The more tattoos they have especially
on their visible body parts the more it enhances their masculinity especially
in attracting their female partner.
Passi City is 50 kilometers away or an hour and
twenty-minute drive from Iloilo City. It is located along the Central portion
of the province using the Iloilo-Capiz National Highway. Made up of 51 barangays, it has a land area
of 25,068 hectares. Visitors to Passi City can take the bus at Ceres Terminal
in Dungon B, Jaro, Iloilo City. For more information about the celebration,
please contact Mrs. Gina Palmares – Municipal Tourism Officer at (033) 3115087/
3115947.
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