The Gigantes Festival of Lucban, Quezon
August has come, bringing the beginning of classes in schools and universities and the promotion of the Filipino language. However, for the locals of Lucban, Quezon, it is time to make it big.
Every year on August 19, the town of Lucban, Quezon celebrates the Gigantes Festival, parading their papier-mâché caricatures standing around 14 feet tall. The giants, or higantes, come in pairs, a mag-asawa. This couple consists of a male figure dressed in the farmer’s undershirt or camisa chino, while the female figure clad in the native patadyong and kimona, a loose skirt topped with a flimsy blouse, together with their children.
The giants are locally constructed using a bamboo framework and papier-mâché and are carried on shoulders by people who have made a panata, a covenant, for a favor granted. Months of practice are taken to make the higantes march, dance, bow, and even curtsy before an audience.
The History of Gigantes Festival in Quezon
The Gigantes Festival of Lucban, Quezon province originated as part of a Christian celebration called Corazon de Jesus, honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus. A part of the activities is the dancing and procession of two papier-mâché giants dressed in vibrant costumes.
The tradition starts on the night before the feast day when the higantes dance together while a marching band plays music. The event, known as Serenata or the serenade, is done with a fireworks display and a running bull laden with lighted fireworks.
Higantes roam the streets with loud music when morning breaks to signal the festivities. A procession is held in the afternoon, with their followers tailing along and chanting “he-het bong”.
This attraction to the Gigantes Festival is borne from the mind of Fernando Cadelina Nanawa, the founder and president of the Art Club of Lucban. Contributing greatly to the Pahiyas Festival, another celebration on the municipality that celebrates great and bountiful harvests, he made the mag-asawa to encourage more local and foreign tourists to visit and participate.
This spectacle spurned on more higantes made from various materials and paraded by locals from all walks of life and has since become the turning point of the festival.
The higantes of Gigantes Festival have evolved into caricatures made from fiberglass heads and aluminum frames. They have also gone beyond Lucban, featuring in many major malls and events in Metro Manila and other provinces.
The Festival of the Giant Puppets in Angono, Rizal
The town of Angono in Rizal also holds its own version of the Higantes Festival (borrowed from the Spanish word gigante, meaning giant), in honor of St. Clement of Rome as a thanksgiving celebration for a bountiful harvest. A church in the town of Angono holds some records that date as far back as 1571 that identified the patronage of St. Clement of Rome.
It is widely famous for its fluvial procession in Laguna Lake and the display and parade of colorful, giant papier mache puppets. This festivity has been listed on the International Information and Networking Center for Intangible Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region.
According to stories, however, the feature of the giant puppets in the Higantes Festival came about during the post-war period when national artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco requested Artemio Tajan, the first puppet creator – artist to make the Higantes for the festival.
The Giant Kite Festival, or el festival de barriletes gigantes in Guatemala, Central America
Each country holds its festivals in its own unique way, but one stands out for its impressive traditions. Guatemala in Central America takes their celebrations several notches higher with the world renowned festivity called the Giant Kite Festival or el festival de barriletes gigantes.
During the first days of the festival de barriletes gigantes, the skies literally become a canvas to flowing giant kites as folks and even tourists take advantage of the windy weather. The Guatemalan Kite Festival is an amalgamation of age-old rituals and beliefs, contemporary festivities, and national pride.
It is a magnet for tourists – both local and International, due to its vibrant colors and an example of intricate designs and patterns that the Guatemalans create.
The construction of these kites requires full teams of Guatemalans who spend months after months of preparation with some kites spanning as wide as 50 feet. The flowing giant kites are usually made out of paper or cloth patches set in bamboo frames or wires.
Various Guatemalan groups involve themselves in this tradition ranging from popular groups, impoverished families as one of the ways for suicide prevention, and even an all-female kite group named Las Orquideas led by Sara Xicon, who use the occasion to represent contemporary social issues.
More than the construction of the kites, the kites become a representation of oneself, values, and messages. A number of the most intricate kites, even the smaller versions, are themed with meaningful messages from honoring activists in the country, climate change, and an expression of pride in their indigenous roots.
Mayan Origin
The giant kites festival is usually held in two primary locations in Santiago Sacatepéquez in Guatemala. These small towns actually have large populations of the indigenous Mayan tribes, which is why the festival is imbued with ancestral symbology of Maya cosmology.
The festival de barriletes gigantes has continued to be celebrated for thousands of years and started in the past within the Mayan pueblos as a way to free the area of evil spirits of the dead.
When you visit Guatemala, try to schedule it in November when the festival de barriletes gigantes happens.
How You Can Participate in the Philippines’ Gigantes Festival
Participate in Gigantes Festival by wearing appropriate clothing, as there will likely be a lot of people roaming outdoors. Comfort and suitability is your best friend during the celebrations. Make sure to have your personal hygiene items ready and a handkerchief or cleansing wipes when it gets really humid.
Don’t forget to take pictures and record videos of the higantes! But for optimal enjoyment, remember to also live in the moment. Some memories live better in the mind than in your photo gallery.
Be cautious and stay alert while still having fun. Keep your valuables close, especially when the crowds get tighter. Drink enough water to avoid becoming dehydrated. For better safety, wear a face mask to avoid catching a disease while celebrating. While mask mandates and recommendations are changing, it is still better to be safe than sorry.
Here’s a tip: remember to be respectful of other people and their personal space. Make sure to mind your manners and be polite, especially when you’re outside.
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