Aliwan Fiesta Parade

 

In the late afternoon on April 26th we walked over to Roxas Boulevard (about three blocks from our apartment and along the bay) to watch a parade for the Aliwan Fiesta. The parade was supposed to start at 4:00, but didn't really get going until 5:00 pm. That is so typical for the Philippines. We went to Jollibee's and bought a coke float to cool us down in the 95 degree heat. While we were waiting for the parade to start we sat down and an older Filipino gentleman came over and started talking to us. We must have conversed with him for a half and hour. We talked a lot about the conditions in the Philippines. All Filipinos think their government is corrupt and should do more to help the people. We were able to get the gentleman's name and phone number as a referral for the missionaries.  He was interested in doing genealogy work at one of the Family History Centers.

 

 



 We were not sure what to expect from the parade, but we were pleasantly surprised to see people dancing and wearing very colorful costumes.  There was going to be a performance at the end of the parade where the different groups would compete for a grand prize.

 

 

There were lots of drums and other percussion instruments being played during the parade.  There were also marching bands.

 

 

The Tuna Festival Float
(Looked like a big tuna fish.)



The Rice Festival Float

 

There were several floats in the parade.  Each float and dance group represented a festival that is held in provinces in the Philippines.  The Rice Festival Float even had running water to show how they flood the rice fields.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



Above are two more of the dance groups in their colorful and elaborate costumes.

 

We left to walk home from the parade about 6:00 pm.  It was almost time for the sun to set and we had been out in the heat for several hours.  The participants in the parade were suffering from the heat.  One group had a large flatbed truck for their participants to climb up on when they became too hot and tired to go on.  Looked like a good plan to us.