Galeón Andalucia Docks at Manila

8 October, 2010 Bernardo Arellano III 1 Comment

Galeon Andalucia in Manila

It has been two hundred years since the “Pearl of the Orient” has last seen a galleon. After most Latin American countries gained independence in the 19^th century, especially Mexico, the famed Manila-Acapulco Galleon trade ceased to exist. Two hundred years later, Manila was visited—like somewhere in the past—by a Spanish galleon from Seville, Spain, the Galeón Andalucia.

As part of the Día Del Galeón celebrations in the Philippines, the 17^th century Spanish galleon replica docked at Manila’s Pier 13 at South Harbour after traveling for more than six months at the sea, from Seville in Spain to Manila. Before they even arrived here, the ship was at the 2010 Shanghai Expo in China. The galleon is manned by 30 tripulantes, 28 hombres and 2 mujeres.

Galeón Andalucia is docked at Manila’s Pier 13 at South Harbour (that’s near Eva Macapagal Ferry Terminal). She sits like a majestic chica from the past. Her masts tower the horizon. The wooden replica is powered by wind and by machine.

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The First Día Del Galeón Opens in Manila

28 September, 2010 Bernardo Arellano III Leave a comment

Nao Victoria - Spanish Galleon Replica to Dock at Manila on Oct 5

After two centuries of almost left in the oblivion of time, the journey of thousands of miles that initiated the modern trans-Pacific trade, has been celebrated. Manila, the first ASEAN cultural capital, opened the 1^st Día Del Galeón Festival (Day of the Galleon) on 24^th of September, 2010. The said festival will go on all the way to the 8^th of October, 2010 with the theme “Connecting Continents.” With cultural presentations, academic conferences and the revisiting of a replica of the Spanish galleon, the event was organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Instituto Cervantes, the Embassies of Spain and Mexico, and all other non-government organizations, and members of the academe and the Philippine government—rekindling the once (almost) lost connection between Philippines, Mexico, Spain and the rest of Asia in two centuries of treacherous journeys across the Pacific, that changed the course of world history.

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The 112th Philippine Independence Day Celebrations at Luneta: A Reflection

19 June, 201019 June, 2010 Bernardo Arellano III Leave a comment

A century and 12 years later, the Republic of the Philippines celebrated its freedom from the Spanish Empire with a float, performance and parade gala at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, Manila. Since this is the last year of the outgoing president Gloria Arroyo, the government allotted PhP10 million for the whole programme. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (Yes, another name change. It was National Historical Institute) was the main organizer of the programme “Kalayaan 2010″ (Freedom 2010). I wasn’t able to see the traditional flag raising at Aguinaldo’s House at Kawit (its too early! Good luck at baka trapik sa Binakayan galing dito sa Imus!) so I went to Luneta that afternoon for the civic and military parade.

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The Vivid Colours of Pahiyas de Lucban

31 May, 201015 May, 2014 Bernardo Arellano III 2 Comments

Now, for the main dish. The number one reason why I went to Lucban last May 15th was because of Pahiyas Festival. Yup, that’s right. The fiesta of splashing colours, food, alcohol, revelry, religiosity and the invasion of the paparazzi. Pahiyas Festival has been known all over the Philippines as the fiesta with colurful buntings decorated in the town’s houses called kiping. Seen at post cards, text books and even foreign TV shows,Quezon Province’s most famous festival brings thousands of people to the rustic yet cool town in the foothills of Mount Banahaw, Lucban.

For the record, perstaym ko po pumunta dito! Nope, di lang Pahiyas, pati na rin pagpunta sa Lucban! Yes, nakarating na ako sa bayan ng Pahiyas, longanisa, pansit habhab at ang sagot sa vodka ng mga Tagalog, ang lambanog!

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Three Things That Satisfied My Tummy in Pahiyas de Lucban

29 May, 201029 May, 2010 Bernardo Arellano III 1 Comment

Pancit Habhab at Lucban...Served Hot with a smile!

Well, what do you know. I came up here for two things: The fiesta and the food. In every fiesta in this country, food is always associated-and it means a whole lot of it. When I was at Lucban, although I wasn’t able to go house-hopping for food, the streets of this quaint Quezon town is a feast of gastronomic proportions. Yup, its beyond your usual delicious chorizo, if you know what I mean. There were three things that made my tummy satisfied all throughout the day in Lucban during the Pahiyas.

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Good Morning Lakbay! Traveling from Manila to Lucban

21 May, 201021 May, 2010 Bernardo Arellano III Leave a comment

Well, I guess I was excited back then. It was my first time going to Lucban for Pahiyas Festival. The feast that I could only see on telly or on books. I’ve seen Sinulog, Dinagyang and Masskara for countless times already but this crowning jewel of Quezon Province’s feasts is something that I would look forward into. Such colourful and attractive feast has made me like a bee, attracted to the colour of the kipings and revelry. It was my first time going there and I’ll be commuting. May 15 is a notorious date to any commuter or motorist going south, as horrific stories of traffic jams linger. But I dared!

Which is which?

I called in the Quezon Provincial Tourism Office and sought advise on what’s the best route going to Lucban. My friends from Quezon and the tourism people have a unanimous answer: Go Laguna-Pagsanjan instead!

Here’s why:

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Up, Up and Away! The 15th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

17 February, 2010 Bernardo Arellano III 2 Comments

It was my first time I went to this festival…or fiesta. It is not the usual street dancing competition or handaan sa bahay-bahay festivities but it was a perfect way of celebrating Valentine’s Day and the Chinese New Year out of the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila. Nah, not the “Age of Aquarius” song again, but it’s “up, up and away, my beautiful, my beautiful balloon” in Clark Field in Pampanga as the people celebrate the 15^th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. The feast of hot air balloons and anything aviation has been running since February 11 (Thursday) and I was just in time for the final day of the said event (Feb 14)! Hurray for Flight Sim! (more…)

Hala Bira To Life and Faith! Celebrating Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival 2010

10 February, 2010 Bernardo Arellano III 2 Comments

Wow…It’s been almost two weeks since the festivities and I still can’t get over the January celebrations either. That January though, I came home for somewhat like an annual pilgrimage for myself. I couldn’t resist the temptation of those throbbing drums pounding loud and hard in this southern Philippine city every January. I’ve been with this festival since 2003, yet it never failed to amaze me as it continually innovates itself year after year it is being celebrated by the Ilonggos. Outrageous and frenzy as some say it may seem but this is Iloilo’s grandest fiesta at its finest!

It was one crisp morning of January that the city streets were starting to feel the throbbing beat of the drums, as if Iloilo City’s core was a heart. As the sun shines in this central Philippine city, the crowd gradually increased to witness and enjoy Iloilo’s grandest fiesta, the Dinagyang Festival. Now, this is the time you’ll be seeing those dancers painted in dark brown (back then it was black…welcome to the era of political correctness, hehe!) with colourful costumes and choreography so agile and fast that you shouldn’t blink during their performance! (more…)

Revelry and Dance: Kasadyahan in Dinagyang Festival 2010

1 February, 2010 Bernardo Arellano III 6 Comments

Tribu Kasag of Banate in Kasadyahan 2010

Magsinadya kita! That’s what we do during Dinagyang. Sadya is a Hiligaynon term meaning “happy, joy or fun.” The Dinagyang Festival street dancing starts not on the Ati-Ati competition but with the Kasadyahan Festival. Held on a Saturday before the Ati-Atihan highlight of Dinagyang, it is a cultural dance parade, contest and showcase of Iloilo’s kabanwahanan or towns and several institutions within the city and the province (and I heard it is also open to all towns in Panay Island as well!) You don’t get to see soot-covered Ati warriors dancing during Kasadyahan like what most of us know about Dinagyang though. By the beat of the music and interpretative dance, the contingents showcase a myriad of cultural topics that is incorporated in every Ilonggo, from history to current events.

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