Tradition and inherent cultural nuances    took front seat as festival representatives    from Cebu, Laoag, and Davao emerged victorious at the recently-concluded Aliwan Fiesta celebrations, held on May 1-3.

A triumvirate of festivities anchored on Santo Nino worship copped top honours in the streetdance competition.  Lumad Basakanon of Cebu won the grand prize of one million pesos with its presentation of the Sinulog – its third straight championship in the annual festivities mounted by Manila Broadcasting Company and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, in cooperation with the cities of Manila and Pasay.  

Filipino craftsmanship was admirably showcased by the winners in the float design category.   Running away with the P500,000 grand prize was Laoag City, which  featured the city's traditional mode of transport – the calesa --  elegantly crafted in simple corn husk and bamboo, to symbolize the resiliency and resourcefulness of the Ilokanos.   Catanauan, Quezon's Boling-Boling festival took second place, while Cebu's Sinulog festival float came in third.  The seven runners-up were the Singkaban of Malolos, Kalilang a Kawing of General Santos City,  Baguio's Panagbenga, Kang' Gelal of Sultan Kudarat, Guinakit of Parang, Shariff Kabunsuan, Iloilo's Dinagyang, and the Kalilintad of Mamasapano, Maguindanao.


Davao, in turn, fielded this year's Reyna ng Aliwan winner in the person of Mary Jean Lastimosa, who bested 23 other hopefuls for the crown and received P100,000 plus other prizes in kind.  Kim de los Santos of Pasay emerged in second place, with Ciara Joyce Buot (Carmen, Cebu), Zarah Mae Lim (Cotabato), and Joannie Magbanua (Kanlaon City) rounding up the top five.