Passi
City, Iloilo will celebrate and recognize its tattooed culture with music,
dance, and performances that express and impress. Alongside Passi’s 21st
Cityhood Anniversary, Pintados de Pasi will turn into an enormous festival,
reverberating to the drumbeats of hundreds of tattooed dancing bodies on its
tribal dance competition on March 23, 2019 at 8 a.m.
The
festivity showcases the ancient practice of the art of body painting and
tattooing. It is also in memory of their ancestors who were called
"pintados," men with tattoos from the ankles up to their upper torso
and neck. Not everyone could have a tattoo; they were exclusive only to the
greatest and bravest of warriors. Tattoos were symbols of status and rank.
Natives had to win battles and fight in wars in order to earn their tattoos.
The braver ones even extended their tattoo marks up to their cheeks, around
their eyes and forehead. This art of body painting had even amazed the early
Spanish colonizers.
The
centerpiece of the festival features the rich history and culture of the
Passinhons expressed through dances with different themes depicting the
pre-Spanish lifestyle – wars, epics, and folk religions – of the Pintados. The
participating tribes are adorned with decorative body paint imitating the
ancient tradition of tattooing. They parade the streets, showcasing their
extravagant costumes and smiling faces..
Celebrated
this year starting March 9 - 24, 2019, with the festival theme:”Passinhon,
Padayon nga Maghiriugyon sa Mainuswagon nga Palaabuton,” Pintados de Pasi
Festival is one of the more established and popular in the province. More than
just a celebration, it is important community event where ancient stories and
traditions are handed down to youngsters, as well as a time to come together
and have fun.
The
event is free, and everyone is welcome to join in the festivities, with
activities for children and adults alike. March 9 (Saturday) Opening of Food
Festival/ Passi People’s Trade Fair and Garden Show at 6 p.m., Pintados Color
Fest at 7 p.m.; March 10 - 13 (Sunday – Wednesday) Nightly Entertainment; March
14 (Thursday) 21st Cityhood Anniversary Celebration with a Mass at 6:30 a.m.,
Opening Salvo – Street Dancing at 8 a.m., Creative Minds – CMIAP All In at 6
p.m.; March 15 (Friday) Zumbatados at 5 p.m., Ang Pagbukas: Pintados de Pasi
Festival 2019 at 5 p.m., Montessorian’s Night at 6 p.m.; March 16 (Saturday)
3rd Pintados de Pasi Taekwondo Championship 2019 at 6 a.m., Mobile Legend
Tournament at 8 a.m., Big Brother Party Central and St. Alphonsus School of
Passi City Entertainment Night at 6 p.m.;March 17 (Sunday) Invitational
Motocross at 6 a.m., Nightly Entertainment at 7 p.m.; March 18 (Monday) Nightly
Entertainment at 7 p.m.
March
19 (Tuesday) Opening Program of Parade/ Pasundayag and Awarding Program at 7
a.m., Binibining PIntados 2019 Talent’s Competition at 7 p.m.; March 20
(Wednesday) Golden Hearts Award 2019 Handuraw 2019 at 7 p.m.; March 21
(Thursday) Laro Ng Lahi at 7 a.m., Pinta Lawas – Ginoong PIntados at 9 a.m.,
PIntados Night at 7 p.m.; March 22 (Friday) Karosa Parada/ Karabaw
Pagwapa-Pagwapo at 7 a.m., Binibining Pintados 2019 Grand Coronation Night at 7
p.m.; March 23 (Saturday) Mass for Tribe Competition at 6:30 a.m., Pintados
Tribe Competition at 8 a.m., Closing/ Awarding Program at 4 p.m., Fireworks Display at 6:30 p.m. and
Night with the Stars at 7 p.m.; March 24 (Sunday) Thanksgiving Mass at 6:30
a.m.
Pintados
de Pasi Festival had always been an important community event for connecting
people to place and reinforcing identity. The festival helps Passi City grow
culturally and revitalize its cultural and historical expression.
The
City of Passi 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 with 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.
To
get to Passi City, one can take the bus at the new Ceres Terminal in Barangay
Camalig, Jaro, Iloilo City. For more information about the celebration, please
contact Mrs. Gina Palmares – City Tourism Officer at (033) 3115087/ 3115947.
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