Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival dancers to dominate Tacloban streets

TACLOBAN CITY, June 27 (PNA) –- Nine contingents will join Monday’s Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival in Tacloban as part of the city’s 127th fiesta celebration.

Performers from different villages of the city and town in Leyte province will showcase dances, music and cultural heritage along the city’s major thoroughfares.

The grand festival parade has started at 8 a.m. from the Leyte Sports Development Center, passing through the Sen. Ninoy Aquino Avenue, Paterno St., Sta. Cruz St., Juan Luna St., Avenida Veteranos, Real St., Justice Romualdez St., Rizal Avenue and back to Leyte Sports Development Center for the grand ritual presentation.

At least six contingents are joining the Pintados Festival - Kawayan, Siete Quadro, Kasirangan, Mangirisda, Manangete, and Bangan tribes.

While three festivals will compete for the Kasadyaan Festival - Buyogan of Abuyog town, Tulo-usa of Tolosa town and Sangutan of Barugo town.

The Manaragat Festival of Catbalogan City, Champion of Aliwan Festival 2015 and Sinulog Festival 2016 is the guest performer.

With only three participating Kasadyaan contingents, they are now assured to get the PHP750,000, PHP500,000 and PHP250,000 cash prizes for the champion and placers.

“There are less participants this year as they’re not able to prepare since local officials were busy during the election period,” said Palo town Mayor Remedios Petilla, chairperson of the Festival this year.

A grand merry-making is set after the announcement of the winners on Monday night.

The Pintados Festival is a cultural-religious celebration in Tacloban based on the body-painting traditions of the ancient tattooed "pintados" warriors. In 1986, the Pintados Foundation, Inc. was formed to organize this festival in honor of Sr. Santo Niño. Years later, it was merged with the Kasadyaan Festival.(PNA)
JMC/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/EGR