Capiz Festivals and Events

Halaran Festival (every 1st week of October), Roxas City. This festival depicts the colorful history and culture of the Capizeños back to pre-Spanish times particularly the landing and settlement of the Bornean datus. Halaran comes from the Visayan word, halad meaning gift or offer is aimed not only to unfold the charms and beauty of the province but recapture the color and romance and its history. Legend has it that the Bornean Datus gave gifts to the aborigines of Panay as tokens of goodwill and friendship. This resulted in a colorful Halaran celebration highlighted by eating, drinking and dancing to the exotic beat of drums. Halaran is street dancing, lissome Capizeños and babaylans with their offerings to the spirits. It is celebrated every first weekend of October.

Sinadya Festival (December 5-8), Roxas City. It is in commemoration of the feast of the Immaculate Concepcion, patroness of Roxas City. It showcases the rituals and festivities that are not only religious but culturally and genuinely Capizeño. Highlights of the affair includes the diana, fireworks display, grand dancing parade with giant paper marches, foot and fluvial processions, fair and food festival, sports exhibitions and the Capiz dance festival.

Balintawakan Festival (every 15th day of May), Pontevedra, Capiz. Balintawakan is a simple gathering, mostly of senior citizens of pontevedra, Capiz who are sentimentally bound together to an unwritten commitment to preserve a simple tradition which began long ago and was only interrupted by World War II. Every December 31 people hold a Binayle at the town's public market. Its highlight is the search for Miss Balintawakan as the Festival Queen. The event is capped by a Rigodon de Honor. The Filipino costume called Balintaw is the official attire of the womenfolk participating in the affair.

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