At the Aliwan Festival 2008, there was no stopping the stomping despite the heavy downpour. Members of each contingent just had to show us their moves in the street dance competion from Luneta Granstand and which was capped with a field demonstration at the Aliwan Theater Grounds.
Proclaimed winners were Lumad Basakananon of Cebu (a threepeat!), Tribu Paghidaet of Iloilo (crowd favorite) and the Carmen contingent of Cebu for first, second and third places respectively.
As predicted, rain poured in. Undeterred, I went to Quirino Grand Stand maybe foolishly risking my health and my camera. But there was pride in what I was about to do afterall, this is the Aliwan Festival where the best 24 regional dance troups perform for the one million peso pot.
But more than bragging rights of who wins the top prize (there has always been a very fierce rivalry between the Sinulog representatives of Cebu and the Dinagyang delegates of Iloilo for years), each contingent just beams with pride to showcase who they are as a people. For each group, there is real pleasure to present their own culture and heritage using their ethnic costumes and tribal moves. As such, it gives me esteem to be truly Filipino.
Thinking that some of the regional groups would perform officially today, I went to the Aliwan Festival Grounds at the CCP complex. Too bad every magical thing will be done tomorrow. Yet some of the troups shared a sampling of what can be anticipated on the final day. I saw contingents from University of Cordillera, Carmen (Cebu), and the grand winner for the Kasadyahan Competition of the Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo rehearsed their blockings for the street dancing competition. Yes, the pulsating percussion rhythm, the complex choreography and the ornate production design just whetted my appetite for more. Tomorrow, rain or shine, I shall be there.
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let's go pinas!! 
