Sto. Niño Patron Saint of Leyte. Come June 27-29 visit the province of Leyte as they celebrate their festival of festivals dubbed as Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival. Kasadyaan Festival in the province of Leyte is one of the most anticipated festivals in the country. The festival give homage to the Sto. Niño.
“Kasadyaan” means merriment in the vernacular language. The highlight of the event are the presentations and different activities prepared by the locals in forms of dances and songs to re-tell Leyte’s famous folklores and legend.
Pintados Festival recalls pre-colonial occupations, war and colonization of the Spaniards in the province of Leyte and Samar. The festival aims to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Leytenos through songs and dance presentations. The grandeur of the festival is that participants of the festival would be wearing a painted face and body to resemble the old warriors. They would then go to the streets of Tacloban City.
Ever wonder why it was called Pintados? It was during Spanish colonization that they are surprised when they arrived in the shores of Leyte to witnessed heavily tattooed men and women. To their surprise they then labelled them as “Pintados”. It was believe the natives have their own beliefs, culture and religion. When the missionaries arrived in year 1888 along with the image of the Child Jesus, the Sto. Niño which the refer as the “El Capitan” they then penetrated the old religious belief to what is it now known as Christian.
As the time progress and develop in the province of Leyte, the Pintados tribe are no anymore physically visible in the province, but the tattoo will always be marked as their rich cultural and historical heritage which is a symbol of heroism, courage and bravery.
Come June 27, 2018 the festival of festivals will be witnessed in the streets of Tacloban and dance rituals will follow in Leyte Sports Development Center at 2:00pm. This festival shouldn’t be missed by any festival inclined individual. You will not only be thrilled and wowed by what you will witnessed by their artistic and creative presentation. The Pintados Kasadyaan Festival now is not anymore a little merrymaking, but it has become a way of commemorating how the Leytenos progressed into who and what they are today.
For today’s spectators, below is the grand parade route.
Leyte’s Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals is the home of the champions namely Buyogan Festival of Abuyog Leyte, Pasaka Festival of Tanauan Leyte, Lingganay Festival of Alang-alang Leyte and Buraburon Festival of Burauen Leyte. They were proclaimed champions of Sinulog Festival in Cebu and Aliwan Festival in Manila.
To date Pintados Festival is now on its 32nd year while Kasadyaan Festival is on its 23rd year. This year Pintados Festival has 6 contingents while Kasadyaan Festival has 5 contingents. Below are the official results:
Pintados Festival 2018
Minor Awards:
Best Tattoo – Tribu Mangirisda, Tanauan Leyte
Best in Musicality – Tribu Mangirisda, Tanauan Leyte
Best in Street Parade – Tribu Sulog, Burauen Leyte
Major Awards:
3rd – Tribu Siete Quattro
2nd – Tribu Sulog, Burauen Leyte
Champion – Tribu Mangirisda, Tanauan Leyte
Aside from the trophy the top 3 received cash prizes amounting to P50,000.00, P70,000.00 and P100,000.00 for the 3rd, 2nd and 1st respectively. Also the choreographer of the 1st prize received as cash incentive as well.
Kasadyaan Festival 2018
Minor Awards:
Best in Dance Parade – Tribu Pasaka, Tanauan Leyte
Best in Festival Music – Tribu Pasaka, Tanauan Leyte
Best in Festival Costume – Tribu Pasaka, Tanauan Leyte
Major Awards:
3rd – Tribu Sanggutan, Sanggutan Festival, Barugo Leyte
2nd – Tribu Buraburon, Burauen Leyte
Champion – Tribu Pasaka, Tanauan Leyte
Aside from the trophy the top 3 received cash prizes amounting to P250,000.00, P500,000.00 and P750,000.00 for the 3rd, 2nd and 1st respectively. Also the choreographer of the 1st prize received as cash incentive as well.
This year Tanauan, Leyte made history for winning both Pintados Festival (Tribu Mangirisda) and Kasadyaan Festival 2018 (Tribu Pasaka). Looking forward for more next year. Maupay na Patron Sr. Sto. Niño.
If you still have more time you can extend your stay in Tacloban for Sangyaw Festival, Tacloban City version of their festival. From June 29-30 as Tacloban celebrates their City fiesta. There be will be street dance and parade plus Festival of Lights.
Maupay na adlaw Leyte! Viva Sr. Sto. Niño!
#LAKAWNIIAN 
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