Singkaban Festival 2013 : A Showcase of Bulacan Culture and Artistry

Singkaban (SIniNG at KAlinangan ng BulakAN) Festival is an annual provincial event which started during the tenure of then Gov. Jon-jon Mendoza. It was held since then up to the present administration though some events were scrapped such as float parade and street dancing - two most awaited part of the festival, during the past 3 years (2010-2012) for austerity measure. Fortunately, those events were revived this year, and I am personally wishing, it would go on for the coming years.

Singkaban Festival Street Dancers. Malolos, Bulacan.

Singkaban Festival Street Dance is the very first Singkaban event I have ever attended despite the festival having been held for so many years already. My first Singkaban experience was coupled by meeting new travel blogger friends, Billy of GalaeroEscapeTravels and Jun of LakwatserongOpisWorker. It was also my second time doing Gala with Thrasher of ManongUnyol, after just a week of meeting him during Carlos Celdran's Viva Manila tour. 

Baro't Saya ng Pandi

Before going to Malolos, we had a rendezvous in Jolibee Tungko, were we also met with, April, a lady who likes to go Gala very much, just like all of us (though, she is yet to be blogger). We also had a visit of San Jose del Monte famous pilgrimage site, Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto Shrine; had a visit of San Jose del Monte's Renovated Century -old Town Church; and eat at our stomach's content at a local restaurant, Kubo sa Bayan.  

Desposorio. Hagonoy, Bulacan.

After lunch, we immediately went to Malolos to witness this year's Singkaban Festival Street Dance, and meet with other Bulakenyo friends Christopher, Ian and Sol Mark. Upon arriving in Malolos, we were met with a heavy rain, which delayed the start of the street dance and its transfer from the roads of Barasoain-Malolos City Proper to the Capitol Compound. 

Singkaban. Malolos, Bulacan.

Singkaban. Malolos, Bulacan.

Somebody told us that the street dance would not push through anymore because of the intermittent rain and would just be held inside the capitol gym. We immediately went to the gym and waited for the "street dance" (oh, the irony!) to start there. Fortunately, the weather improved and the organizing committee decided to push through with the street dance, in the road encircling the capitol compound.

Singkaban. Malolos, Bulacan.

Halamanan ng Guiguinto

This year's Singkaban Street Dance was a showcase of the Bulacan's local culture, heritage and artistry. Many things truly Bulakenyo was featured by the entries from the province's different towns. The Singkaban (bamboo artworks), the name sake of the festival itself, is a prominent theme, especially in Hagonoy town's entry. It can be seen as headdresses of the dancers, arch and backdrop of the Desposorio, or part of the dancer's costume. 

A beauty representing Gulay Festival of San Ildefonso.

Halamanan Festival ng Guiguinto

Pandi town presented their very own Baro't Saya Festival while San Ildefonso, their Gulay Festival. Hagonoy town had a field day showing off their very own Desposorio and a plethora of singkaban used in different ways. Guiguinto was proud in their one-of-a-kind Halamanan Festival while Plaridel enticed the crowd with their dance routines while proudly encouraging everyone to taste the famous Goto ng Plaridel.

Gulay Festival ng San Ildefonso.

Singkaban. Malolos, Bulakan.

Unlike other famous festivals around the Philippines which feature Mardi Gras style, most of Singkaban Festival's entries stay true to the local culture of Bulacan. It is evident in Singkaban's Santa Cruzan style where the use of baro't saya, Maria Clara style gown, camisa chino and singkaban is abundant. 

Singkaban. Malolos, Bulakan.

Goto ng Plaridel

All in all, there were 8 entries from five different towns of Bulacan. I can't help but wonder why many towns (24 all in all) haven't even bothered to send their delegates. Even Malolos itself has no single delegate! It would have been a very very big event if all the towns had an entry, and surely, many more parts of the province's culture, heritage and artistry could have been showcased. I was told that Singkaban street dance before was a very big event and all the 24 towns participate. I fervently wish for that to happen again in the coming years. After all, Bulacan has so much to show to the whole nation.