Text & photos by Rudi Roels
When I travel to Asia, I try to choose my travel dates so that they match up with the amazing festivals the region is so famous for. I have seen psychedelic, vibrant and vivid festivals in India, China, Indonesia and many other countries.
But for me the Philippines is particularly special, with a myriad different festivals all year round. I had the pleasure of attending one of the most colourful of them: the Kaumahan Festival in Barili, Cebu. It was an amazing experience – so many colours, so many warm people, with everyone willing to be photographed.
Flamboyant dancing in the streets and pounding drums beats are the festival’s high points, and there’s also ample opportunity to showcase the town’s agricultural products. In the Visayan dialect, the word kaumahan means “farm” or something that pertains to a rural area, and all the revelry and merrymaking of the Kaumahan Festival is about giving thanks to God for His graces and blessings for a bountiful harvest.
The festival lasts for a few days, but the costumes and dance routines require many months of preparation. The villagers take the festivities very seriously: participating groups compete with one another to produce the most beautiful and captivating dance in the parade. The stakes are high – after all, everyone wants to be the best!
As a photographer, I’m always looking for something special, of course. When you attend these kinds of festivals in the Philippines, there is a lot more to capture than just the central parade. When the participants stop from time to time, this is the moment I really use my camera, shooting as many portraits and capturing as much colour as I can.
For the rest of this article (Asian Geographic No.98 Issue 5 /2013 ) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
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