Passi City, Iloilo
will celebrate its Pintados de Pasi Festival on March 10-24, 2018 alongside
with its 20th Cityhood Anniversary celebration. With the theme,” Go,
Passi! Soar to Greater Height!,” In an effort to preserve their cultural
heritage, an annual festivity of their tattoo tradition adds the important
people in their community’s journey with series of events have been prepared
for this 3 week-long festivity.
March 10 (Saturday)
Mass and Opening Program, Recognition of Awardees, Opening of Food Festival,
Passi Peoples Trade Fair, Garden Show and Concert at the Park with Live Band;
March 11 -24 for Food Festival, Passi Peoples Trade Fair and Garden Show; March
12 (Monday) Concert at the Park; March 13 (Tuesday) Concert at the Park; March
14 (Wednesday) 20th Cityhood Anniversary with Pintados Street
Dancing at 8 a.m. and Mass at 5 p.m.; March 15 – 19 with Concert at the Park;
March 20 (Tuesday) Bb. Pintados 2018 Talents Competition at 4 p.m.;
March 21 (Wednesday)
Parade and Pasundayag at 8 a.m., Golden Hearts Award and Handuraw at 7 p.m.; March
22 (Thursday) Laro ng Lahi, Pinta Lawas and Ginoong Pintados; March 23 (Friday)
Karosa Parada and Karabaw Pagwapa and Pagwapo at 7 a.m. with the Coronation
Night of Bb. Pintados at 7 p.m.; , March 24 (Saturday) Mass, Pintados Tribe
Competition at 8 a.m., Awarding Ceremonies and Fireworks Display at 6 p.m.,
Night with the Stars at 7 p.m.; March 25 (Sunday) Thanksgiving Mass; April 6
(Friday) Judging Pintados 2018 Photo Contest; April 8 (Sunday) Awarding
Ceremony for Photo Contest; April 8 -16 Photo Exhibit of winning Pintados
photos.
In the Visayas, tattooing
was highly revered and ritualised. The tattooing would begin usually during
adolescence. Patterns are one of a kind. They are always highly intricate and
detailed and display the craftsmanship and artistry of not only the artist but
of the local culture.
The complex art of
body tattooing existed in the Visayan Islands long before the arrival of
Spanish conquistadors to our shores. Known to be “Pintados,” they were fierce
and noble warriors covered with intricate solid patterns all over their body.
Only people of rank
or status were allowed to have tattoos. A person who did not have any
high-ranking social status, and those who could not have a tattoo were seen as
people of lower social status.
The designs were not
meant as an embellishment to their bodies, rather to mark a rite of passage
like that from childhood into adulthood or as a mark to begin their journey of
becoming a fearsome warrior.
For men, the most
common are the ones on their chests, tattooed only to those who successfully waged
war. Series are added to it depending on the number of succeeding battles won.
At times, patterns extend to their backs arms, thighs and legs. The bravest
warrior is believed to be tattooed on the face.
Women also possess tattoos on their body, mostly in
the chin area, arms and fingers where they are seen in our local culture as
sexual lures or signs of fertility and beauty.
For Pintados de
Pasi festival, this traditional art honoured through dance accompanied by
music and occasional chanting has made a strong impact in the community as the
people have inserted their own meanings and themes into this traditional art
work. For Passinhons, Pintados tattooing has
remained their cultural symbol.
The City of Passi
City is situated 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. It is
politically subdivided into 51 barangays over a land area of 25,068 hectares. It
shares boundaries with San Enrique on the north; on the south is Dumarao,
Capiz; Calinog on the east; and on the west is Lemery.
Visitors to Passi
City can take the bus at the new Ceres Terminal in Jaro, Iloilo City. For more
information about the celebration, please contact Mrs. Gina Palmares – CityTourism
Officer at (033) 3115087/ 3115947.
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