Aliwan Fiesta is making a comeback in the streets of Pasay and Manila from July 13 to 15, as officially announced by the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC).
The grand cultural showcase, known as the Festival of Champions, is being relaunched with great enthusiasm. MBC President Ruperto Nicdao, Jr. signed the memorandum of agreement alongside Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano and Dennis Marasigan, Vice President and Artistic Director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Since its inception in 2003, Aliwan Fiesta has gathered participants from the north to the south of our festive islands, capturing regional pride through a vibrant showcase of their socio-cultural and economic profiles encompassing music, dance, pageantry, and physical theater.
However, due to the circumstances brought about by the pandemic, the festival was put on hold, and the Manila Broadcasting Company turned to its digital platforms to sustain the excitement and fervor.
The online search for Aliwan Fiesta Digital Queen (AFDQ) introduced charming young ladies from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, who exemplified social responsibility and community leadership.
This virtual search, which included the prestigious Pride of Place award, also provided an opportunity for young filmmakers who were confined to working from home during the lockdown to present the cultural traditions, eco-tourism, and one-town-one product campaigns of their respective regions.
During the recent press launch, MBC unveiled the new Aliwan Fiesta logo, characterized by its multi-colored hues and shapes, while employing the Kagitingan font designed by Edsel Pingol, paying tribute to the courageous stance Filipinos took during the pandemic years. Former Reynas ng Aliwan Jamie Herrell (2013) and Marla Alforque (2017) along with AFDQ winners Jannarie Zarzoso (2020) and Marikit Manaois (2022) were present to witness this momentous occasion.
When Aliwan Fiesta returns to the streets, albeit on a smaller scale due to road repairs along Roxas Boulevard, the nightly festivities and grand parade will be held within the CCP Complex. Nonetheless, it is a highly anticipated comeback that regional festivals all over the country have been preparing for since the government initiated the easing of public restrictions.