Tag: Culture

Last of the Few Morion Mask Makers

Post author By Ferdz
Post date April 2, 2023
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Marinduque's Morion Mask

The island of Marinduque has long been known for its Moriones Festival. It is one of the oldest lenten rites in the Philippines where participants wear Moryon (helmet) masks and roam the streets of Marinduque as an act of penitence. During my recent visit to Marinduque, we visited the workshop of one of the known Morion mask makers on the island, Salvador “Buddy” Liwanagan. It was fascinating to witness firsthand how these iconic masks with grimacing Roman faces are made.

Tags Culture, handicrafts, Holy Week, Lenten Rites, Moriones

Travel

Uttar Pradesh – A Gateway to the Mystical, Spiritual, and Spectacular Sights of India

Post author By Fuser
Post date July 14, 2021

If you’re in the Middle East and would want to go on a holiday someplace that mixes the spiritual with the physical, the cultural with the gustatory, maybe you’d want to consider heading off to mystical India. And if we’re talking about India, then why not make it Uttar Pradesh? The state is a heady mix of the holy and the storied, a special place where Lord Krishna, Lord Rama, and the Buddha were said to have walked the earth. It’s also a great jump-off point for the different sights and attractions that draw visitors, pilgrims and tourists alike, from all over the world. And with affordable, inexpensive prices for a Dubai to Lucknow flight ticket, the proposition to visit becomes even more enticing and attractive indeed.

Tags Culture, Heritage, Transit

Museums Nantou County Taiwan Travel

Nantou County | Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village

Post author By Ferdz
Post date March 11, 2019

A traditional game from Formosan aboriginal people

I’ve been interested with the aboriginal heritage of Taiwan since it has close proximity with our islands. I know some Itbayaten have Taiwanese ancient lineage based on the paler complexion and somehow thin eyes. Could ancient Taiwanese have stone houses similar in Batanes? That I have to see as we visit the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village in Yuchi, Nantou County, central Taiwan.

Tags Culture, indigenous people, Theme Park

Isabela Philippines Travel

Echague | Home of the Yogad Tribe

Post author By Ferdz
Post date July 13, 2017
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The yogad tribe bayle de bakal performers

I’m ashamed to say that when they said we’ll be meeting one of the smallest minority group in Isabela, I was thinking they were some remote tribes still wearing their traditional garbs similar to the Dumagats. The Yogad tribe in Echague, Isabela is quite different. They were wearing old Spanish style costumes in bright blue and red colors. They have small mirrors attached strategically at the front and back. They have swords and seem to be ready for battle. They did not come from deep into the mountains nor live by the sea. They sailed all the way from Mindanao many decades ago but today are facing extinction as an indigenous group.

Tags Culture, Echague, People, Traditions, Tribes

Festivals Isabela Philippines

Bambanti Festival 2017: Isabela to the World and Awardees

Post author By Ferdz
Post date January 29, 2017
No Comments on Bambanti Festival 2017: Isabela to the World and Awardees

The municipality of Cauayan in their Dance Showdown performance

Isabela consist of 34 municipalities and 3 cities in a province. It is the second largest province in the country. The vast area consist of agricultural plains, forested areas of the Sierra Madres and coastal towns. As one of the top corn producers in the country, Isabela found the bambanti, an Ilocano term for scarecrow, as a significant icon, symbolizing Isabela farmer’s diligence and resoluteness to earn his keep, feed his family and produce for the community. Hence the Bambanti Festival was born in January 2013. It aims to unite the municipalities, showcase their creativity, unique products and increase tourism.

Tags Bambanti Festival, Culture, Ilagan, People

Mountain Province Philippines Travel Villages

Bontoc | The Far Flung Favarey Village of Maligcong

Post author By Ferdz
Post date October 24, 2016
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Favarey, the old settlement of Maligcong

Maligcong has become one of my favorite destinations in the Mountain Province in the recent years. I’ve cited five reasons on a previous post why one should go to Maligcong. Lately, I did notice that there’s already an influx of tourist discovering its quiet charm and natural wonder. Most of them were doing the short climb at Mt Kupapey to see the breathtaking landscape and the rice terraces at the slope of the mountains from the summit. Mt Kupapey is just one of the interesting places in Maligcong. My recent visits there were to do some exploration treks and hike, particularly the far flung village of Favarey and its surrounding area. This village amidst the vast field of rice terraces is called the “Old Town” by the locals as this is the original settlement of Maligcong.

Tags Bontoc, Culture, Maligcong, Rice Terraces

Albay Food Philippines Travel

Bicol | Zeny’s Pinangat in Camalig Albay

Post author By Ferdz
Post date August 10, 2016
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Zeny's Pinangat in Camalig

Talk about Bicol and it’s hard not to tag one of the region’s signature dishes – the Pinangat. I had fond memories of this spicy and aromatic dish growing up. Whenever relatives from the province would visit our home, the pinangat is mostly one of the treats they would bring. Packed frozen and wrapped tightly in layers of newspaper to keep it fresh. While I had seen how the dish was made from our kitchen, it is interesting to see how it is mass-produced in a backyard industry setting. My recent visit to Camalig found me fascinated by both the sight and smell on how one of the most sought-after pinangat was concocted.

Tags Bicol, Camalig, Culture, Pinangat