RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS AND THEATRICAL FORMS

PHILIPPINES - “Fiesta Island of the Pacific”

PAHIYAS FESTIVAL
-celebrated every 15th of May
-Lucban, Quezon
-to honor their patron saint San Isidro Labrador
-it’s the farmer’s thanksgiving for a rich and bountiful harvest
KIPLING
-leaf-shaped, multi-colored rice-paste wafers used to decorate their houses with, along with agricultural
produce like fruits, vegetables and flowers
*This visual representation of the festival has garnered international regocognition

MAKING OF KIPLING
-time consuming and tedious work
1st step: Selection of leaves to use as molding.
Some common leaves that are good to use:
a. banana (saba)
b. talisay (umbrella tree)
c. kakao (cocoa)
2nd Step: Leaves are cut down (usually snipping off the edges to make the sizes and shape uniform), and wipe
and clean to avoid gathering of dirt and inconsistency of color.
3rd Step: Preparation of rice paste.
*Laon - a kind of sticky rice used in making kipling which should be stocked for a year, soaked for 2
hours and hen ground, mixed with water, food coloring and salt.
4th Step: The resulting paste is spread individually on each leaf then steamed for 30 minutes
5th Step: The leaves covered with rice paste will be left to dry under a shade and peeled off, placed one on top
of another under a weight and compressed for half day.
6th Step: Store it in either a clean box or hanged.
Trivia:
People believe that they should stay quiet when mixing, to avoid cracking on the Kipling.

OBANDO FERTILITY RITE

-dance ritual and Catholic festival celebrated every May
-Obando, Bulacan
Obando’s 3 Patron Saints:
1. San Pascual (Paschal Baylon)
2. Santa Clara (Clare of Assisi)
3. Nuestra Senora de Salambao (Our Lady of Salambao)
*People who are childless can take this occasion to appeal for heavenly intercession and dance to please the
Virgin of Salambao.
*The townfolks dress in traditional costumes:
ladies - Filipiniana with distinct designs and colorful kimona’t saya
*colorful and vivid looking banderitas (flaglets) are seen hanging across the streets to welcome the dancers
and visitors

MORIONES FESTIVAL
moriones - a costume worn by Marinduquenos on the western side of Marinduque
towns of:
Boac
Gasan
Mogpog
*the costume is worn during a week-long festival called the “Moriones festival”
MORIONES FESTIVAL
-held during the Holy Week
*During this week the Moriones costume must be worn everyday for a whole week (except during nighttime
when the people can freely sleep and eat comfortably).
morion - means “mask” or “visor” that covers the wearer’s face, which is part of the medieval Roman armor
worn in Biblical times.
*The festival is characterized by colorful and realistic Roman costumes, vividly painted masks and brightly
colored tunics.
*It depicts the story of St. Longinus, the Roman centurion that miraculously gained his eyesight when his eye
was hit by Jesus’ blood when he stabbed Jesus beside his torso.
*The masks are painted to look like surly Roman soldiers, detailing the eyes and facial expressions supposedly
worn by the centurions, which are made from papier-mache or hand-carved wood. Indigenous materials are
used for the garbs and armor, depending on the creativity of the maker, and are sometimes adorned with
varied colors of paper flowers.
*Other basic props include painted wooden swords or spears, and shields.
Trivia:
Traditionally, wearers’ identities remain anonymous till the end of the festival, even to their families. This and
the acting of being mean-tempered soldiers are all part of the festival’s traditional experience.

ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL
-held every 3rd week of January
-Kalibo, Aklan
-in honor of the Santo Nino
-means “make-believe Atis”
-was named after the “Ati” or “Aetas”, the native of Kalibo, Aklan
-famous for being the wildest among the Filipino festivals
-very similar to the Carnival celebration in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil
*People partake by painting their faces in many different ways and designs and dress in creative, outstanding
costumes.
*The highlight of this festival is the native dance competition that runs for several days throughout the festival.
The competitors cover their body with soot and paint their faces to portray the Ati. They wear different colored
costumes, mostly made out of the following materials:
walis tambo (a soft broom used by most Filipinos)
hair or tiger grass, which is made from native reeds
other indigenous materials to make the headdress and garlands draped across the chest
*The look is completed with paper flowers, woven rattan, and even capiz pieces as accessories. They
sometimes wear long necklaces made out of wooden beads, painted brightly with various colors, and are often
seen with painted wooden spears and shields as well.

SINULOG FESTIVAL
-celebrated every third Sunday of January
-Cebu City
- to commemorates the acceptance of the Filipino people of Christianity, to replace their belief of animalism
“sulog” - means river current, which pertains to the dance steps being similar to a river’s push and pull current.
*The main highlight of the festival is the grand street parade that lasts almost a whole day, where the Sinulog
participants are decked I brightly colored costumes, usually similar to the Sto. Ninos they display.
*On the last day of the Sinulog festival, a water parade called the “Fluvial Procession” is held. A pump boat is
decorated with flowers and candles to honor the Sto. Nino riding on it. People lavish the boat with many
ornaments and designs, bringing to life the joy of embracing the ritual of the festival.

SANTACRUZAN
-most popular and biggest celebrations during May
-also called Flores de Mayo, which means “Flowers of May”
-celebrated with flower offerings for the Blessed Virgin Mary in Catholic churches
The usual participants of the procession would go in this order or arrangement:
1. Matusalem (Methuselah) - bearded and frail-looking because of his old age, usually seen riding a cart and
toasting grains of sand in a pan over a hot fire. He is reportedly the oldest to have lived in the Bible.
Marian Titles:
24. Reyna Elena (Queen Helena) - always the last member of the procession, she represents Saint Helena
herself, whose Invention of the True Cross is symbolised by a small cross or crucifix that she carries in her arms.
This considerable prestigious role is usually awarded to the most beautiful girl or important matron
participating in the pageant. In some communities, the identity of the woman playing Reyna Elena is a closely
guarded secret until the event itself, while other places are a bit more accommodating with the three Reyna
Elenas in their Santacruzan.
25. Constantino - the escort of Reyna Elena representing the Emperor Constantine, who is almost always
played by a small boy in princely raiment.

ACTIVITY: MAKE YOUR OWN FESTIVAL COSTUME

Create your own miniature costumes by tracing the figures of theses paper dolls provided and using different
materials to create the necessary costume pieces. You may choose any religious festival you want to base your
costumes on.