San Carlos City Pintaflores Festival 2010

     Last weekend, November 5 to be exact, I had a chance to witnessed one of Negros Occidental's colorful celebration, the Pintaflores Festival. Like many other festivity around the country, Pintaflores is a street and ritual dance parade depicting the victory of good against evil and thanksgiving for the bountiful blessings.

     It was around mid noon when we arrived in San Carlos City, the sun was way over our head and burning our skin but that did not stop us from enjoying the merriment. I was amazed and overwhelmed by the dancers lavished and colorful costume that looked like giant flowers. 

Masskara Dance Parade 2010

     October is the month of celebration for Bacolod City. This is the month for the annual Masskara Festival.

     Kari na sa Bacolod, magtan-aw Masskara or Come to Bacolod , watch Masskara is often seen on the TV or hear over the radio to promote the city's colorful celebration.

      I am from the nearby city of Bacolod and this is my first time to witness the street dance parade on the street.

     I left my family on one of the malls in the city and I met with Ella who's already on the street of Araneta eagerly awaiting for the dance parade to begin.

Ani-anihan Festival of Brgy. Dos Hermanas, Talisay

     Philippines, being a religious country celebrates feasts to honor their patron saints for protecting or giving them a a bountiful harvest. I happened to witness a small town's celebration called the Ani-anihan Festival.

     Hacienda Sta. Teresita celebrates their Ani-anihan Festival every 28th and 29th of May. It is one of the haciendas in Brgy. Dos Hermanas  Talisay City, located 15 kilometers east of the city proper.

     "Ani" means harvest therefore "ani-anihan" is all about the village's abundant harvest of their primary crop which is rice and sugarcane.

     This year is the festival's second year and the organizer is hoping that their small town's celebration will be given recognition not only from their local government but from the other countries as well. A street dance competition depicting their bountiful harvest is the highlight of the said celebration.