calle Zaragosa Productions

Finally, it happens tomorrow, April 25, 2009 – the ultimate stage of the biggest and grandest festivals in the Philippines – the Aliwan Fiesta 2009.

It is at Aliwan Fiesta where winners of the country’s major festivals meet and compete for the grand title as Champion of the Philippines’ Festivals and a top prize of P1M.

The fiesta’s grand parade kicks off tomorrow at 4:00 in the afternoon in front of the Aliw Theater, CCP Complex and winds up at Quirino Grandstand where a star-studded awarding ceremony will cap the festival.

Representing Leyte are two prestigious festivals – the Buyogan Festival of Abuyog which is the current champion of Cebu’s Sinulog 2009 Festival and the Leyte Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival ’08; and the Karatong Festival of Dulag which placed 2nd in the Leyte Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival ’08 and 5th at the Sinulog Festival ’09.

calle Zaragosa Productions was again commissioned by the Buyogan Foundation, Inc. to document the preparations and performances of the Buyogan Festival at the Aliwan Fiesta 2009.

We motored with the contingent on their trip by land and ferry from Tacloban City all the way to Manila on April 21-22 in 6 buses, 2 trucks and 1 escort vehicle. Blocking and dress rehearsals were held at the Philippine Normal University campus, at the Aliw Theatre at CCP Complex and finally at the Quirino Grandstand at Luneta.

View more photos (49 pix) at the gallery.