Barotac Viejo Gears Up for the 4th KANAWAY Festival

Sulay Basya Festival of Sara, photo by Al Destacamento

Preparations are underway at the municipality of Barotac Viejo for this year’s Kanaway Festival event that will begin on March 2-3 2013. Organized by the Northern Iloilo Center for Culture and Arts (NICCA), the celebration is spearheaded and initiated by the Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College (NIPSC) System.

photo by Al Destacamento

Now on its 4th year, with the theme “Kanaway Festival 2013: Pamaagi kag Alagyan Bulig sa Pag-usoy sa Tadlong nga Dalan,’ the event will open on March 2 (Saturday) with the Parade of Drum and Lyre Corps with the special participation of the candidates for the Ulitawo kag Lin-ay sang 4th Kanaway Festival at 7:30 a.m., Magsaysay Avenue, Barotac Viejo; Newspaper Gown Making and Home Wall Décor Making at 8 a.m., Municipal Booth, NIPSC Barotac Viejo; Drum and Lyre Corps Competition-Elementary Level at 9:30 a.m. at the Municipal Gymnasium; Tribu sang mga Kabataan-Culture Based Tribe Competition at 1 p.m., Municipal Gymnasium and; Pasundayag sang Ambahanon kag mga Ilonggo nga Saot at 7 p.m., Municipal Gymnasium.

March 3 (Sunday) will open with the Parade of Participants in the Drum and Lyre Corps Competition-Secondary Level at 7:30 a.m. at B. Causing Street, Barotac Viejo; Cheerleading Competition at 8:30 a.m. at the Municipal Gymnasium; Drum and Lyre Corps Competition-Secondary Level at 8:30 a.m., Municipal Gymnasium; Talents Showdown of candidates for the Ulitawo kag Lin-ay Sang Kanaway at 2 p.m., Municipal Gymnasium and the Coronation for the Search sang Ulitawo kag Lin-ay sang 4th Kanaway Festival at 7 p.m., Municipal Gymnasium.

Panagat Festival of Estancia, photo by Al Destacamento

Iloilo is this region’s Festival Capital. It is a province of festivals and fairs. It is where people come together from across the country and the globe to share their passion for arts, culture and ideas. This welcoming, inspiring and open-minded atmosphere is heightened by the approachable beauty of this breathtaking historical destination.

The 5th District in the province of Iloilo is an attractive resort destination with lots of tourist spots from inland resorts to the natural beauty of their islands. Road network is good, making it especially convenient for tourism. But not known to many, there are a number of festivals in the area because almost every municipality in this district celebrates one of its own. These festivals are held annually and celebrate important seasons of the year, the harvest. Others celebrate religious occasions. A number of these festivals are common to most parts of Iloilo. However, they may be called by different names in various parts of the province or may be celebrated in a different fashion.

photo by Al Destacamento

The festival of Kanaway is the only one of its kind in Iloilo. It features a grand showdown of cultural performances from the different participating festivals in the 5th District of the province. For this year’s Kanaway tribe competition, the festivals of Ajuy (Tambobo Festival), Sara (Sulay-Basya Festival), Batad (Panulo Festival); Concepcion (Tampisaw Festival); Lemery (Saug Festival), Barotac Viejo (Patubas Festival), Estancia (Panagat Festival) and Carles (Pakinhason Festival) will be competing.

The diversity of our local celebrations provides a starting point for our fellow Ilonggos and visitors to begin to understand and value our many distinct cultures. What better way to do that than to showcase our festivals.

photo by Al Destacamento

Be a part of the Kanaway Festival to promote what is good about the 5th District in the province of Iloilo. For more information, please contact Miss Lorie Ann Dumdum-Municipal Tourism Officer of Barotac Viejo at 09995796398 or Hon. Merelyn P. Valdez-SB Member on Tourism at 09157418182 or at (033) 3620160 or 3620312.

Maasin Hosts Visayan Leg for the 1st International Gongs and Bamboo Music Festival

Hirinugyaw-Suguidanonay Festival uses bamboo as a prop and a musical instrument for their dance

Less than a week remains to the anticipated launch of the Visayan Leg for the 1st International Gongs and Bamboo Music Festival at the Maasin Gymnasium on February 22-26, 2013.  This festival will showcase Maasin, Iloilo as the landmark destination to experience Indigenous cultures and their authentic and diverse music.

Expect an influx of indigenous groups, musical performers and maybe artisans from participating countries such as – India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia and local others, to this entertaining 3-day festival performances. Fall in love with this art and experience a wealth of Indigenous music from indigenous cultures as your appreciation for diversity deepens.

Performances will start on February 23 (Saturday) at 7 in the evening with the opening performances of Manuglayon: Quiling National High School with the Cordillera Music Tutorial and Research Center of Baguio City and the Ensamble Moderu Pailu from Indonesia. A concert follows with performances from Vayali Folklore Group of India, the Manuglitap: Maasin Central Elementary School, the Panay Bukidnon of Iloilo, Manugdabong: Dagami National High School and the Khac Chi Bamboo Music of Vietnam.

 

February 24 (Sunday) at 3 in the afternoon will feature Sabai Sabai Thailand of Thailand along with Manugrara: Tigbauan National High School, Bagobo of Davao City, Manugpusog: Layog National High School and the Ensamble Moderu Palu of Indonesia. The concert at 6 in the evening will showcase Khac Chi Bamboo Music of Vietnam, Manuggama: Maasin National Comprehensive High School, Cordillera Music Tutorial and Research Center of Baguio City, Manugmakan: Saint James Catholic High School and Prasarnmit Performing Arts Alliance of Thailand.

February 25 (Monday) at 3 in the afternoon will highlight Vayali Folklore Group of India, Manugsukdap: Siwalo National High School, Bagobo of Davao City, Binalantak: Burak National High School and Prasarnmit Performing Arts Alliance of Thailand. The closing ceremony at 6 in the evening will have Sabai Sabai Thailand of Thailand, Manuglayon: Quiling National High School, Khac Chi Bamboo Music of Vietnam and Ensamble Moderu Palu of Indonesia.

The Visayan Leg for the 1st Gongs and Bamboo Music Festival provides an opportunity for cultures to showcase their traditional music using gongs and bamboo. The festival’s mission continues with the vibrant energy that got it all started, to preserve the cultural groups’ rich traditions in music accompanied by gongs and bamboos.

 

A gong is musical percussion instrument consisting of a round, thick disk of metal varying in diameter from about 20 to 40 inches. It is made mainly from bronze or brass but there are many other alloys are in use. It is commonly suspended on a frame or a stand.

 

Chinese in origin, a gong is of three types: (a) Suspended Gongs are flat circular discs of metal suspended vertically by means of a cord passed through holes near to the top rim; (b) Bossed or Nipple Gongs with a raised centre boss often suspended and played horizontally, and; (c) Bowl Gongs are bowl-shaped and rest on cushions. Gongs are made mainly from bronze or brass but there are many other alloys in use.

 

It is a popularly used instrument for religious ceremonies, state processions, marriages and other festivals in China and Japan. Gongs are traditionally manufactured in China, Tibet, Burma, Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

 

In the Philippines, as early as 1896, musical instruments manufactured in bamboo were popularly used by groups of Filipino musicians organized as bamboo bands. Mostly revolutionaries, the first bamboo bands made their own instruments and played patriotic musical pieces while fighting for independence from Spain. Now, we have improvised western instruments that are more on the electrical side but the instruments are different. Musical instruments such as piccolos, tubas, clarinets, flutes and saxophones are now made of bamboo and the rhythm is the all the same.



Pintados de Pasi Festival with their bamboo prop

The celebration wants to take bamboo and gong music worldwide and incorporate international flavors. It is also an opportunity that allows performing groups to continue passing on their cultural tradition—be it a particular style of music to the next generations.

The International Gongs and Bamboo Festival is an initiative undertaken by National Commission for Culture and the Arts in partnership with the municipality of Maasin for the benefit of the town’s growing economy and tourism appeal. Maasin will be an even more appealing destination for travelers seeking the best vacationing-experience. See you there!