The fiesta is part and bundle of Filipino culture. Through good times and bad times, the fiesta must go on. Each city and barrio has at least one local festival of its own, usually on the feast of its patron saint, so that there is always a fiesta going on somewhere in the country. But the major and most elaborate festival of all is Christmas, a season celebrated with all the display and show the fun-loving Filipino can handle.
The Pintados Festival connects the past and present that give us the idea of how our Philippine ancestors lived.

As an outsider, the Spaniards were the first to see them in an Island in the Visayas and were much amazed of what kind of culture the tribe might have. Days later, they would find similar spectacle in yet other neighbouring Islands. Later on, they would call the Islands: Islas de los Pintados or the Islands of the Painted People. 

Today, the Pintados Festival recalls that event that marked the rich Pre-Spanish history of the native Leytenos as seen in the eyes of the colonizers. The Pintados refers to the painted people or the warriors in the those times who wore tattoos as marks of their courage, strength and ranks in the society. Sadly, these unique part in the lives of the painted people abruptly changed in the 17th century as the friars banned the use of tattoos, branding the practice as savage and the designs of evil.

However, the festival revives that wonderful part in the Philippine History as the festive dancers, painted from head to toe, resembling the tattooed warriors, go to the streets and celebrate the days of the Pintados. Aside from the folk dances, the grand parade would put on the most colourful show in the region, incorporating different interpretations of the way of life of the early Warays, their work, rites and celebrations through the rhythm of their traditional dance and music. 
The festival would proceed to the various festivities in the city, depicting the real festive spirit typical to all Filipinos who participate the event.

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Guy Louis Roger

I am the President of Asiana Pearl Vision, a boutique travel designer based in Cebu city and operating exclusively in the Philippines, focusing on high end tailor made tours and bespoke traveling experiences. I have an Hotelier background and he has been working on senior management positions for Accor, Dusit, Pan Pacific, Le Meridien, Swiss Belhotel International, Lucien Barriere group...(Read More)