TOP 6 “TALANHAGA” COSTUME DESIGN COMPETITION ENTRIES
“Talanhaga”, a vernacular term for mysterious or mystical. This was the theme of the First “Talanhaga” Costume design Competition held this afternoon at Robinsons Place, Bacolod City. I was one of the judges and prior to the event,I made a short interview with the organizers on the background of the competition.
The “Talanhaga” Costume design Competition is one of the events in Babaylan Festival in Bago City, Negros Occidental, Philippines which is celebrated every February.
The Babaylan Festival is celebrated to highlight a Filipino heritage which dates back to the pre-Spanish period. The Festival features the Babaylan being known in the place in the olden times. Babaylan is a Visayan term identifying an indigenous Filipino religious leader, who functions as a healer, a shaman, a seer and a community “miracle-worker” (or a combination of any of those). The Babaylan can be male, female, or male transvestites (known as asog, bayoc, or bayog), but most of the Babaylan were female.
It is said the Babaylans of Bago City were powerful and would go to Mt. Kanlaon (A mountain found in the place) to renew and strengthen their power. According to the oral tradition, one source of their power came from the Diwatas of Mt. Kanlaon. Moreover, people believe that only the Babaylans can see this mystical creatures. Hence the theme “talanhaga” or mysterious.
The festival for me is paganistic in origin, but I guess this festival was not created to really propagate the beliefs on Babaylans nor do I have faith in the power of Babaylan. This festival for me is just cultural in nature and just showing the rich history and culture of Bago City.
The “Talanhaga” Costume Design Competition has 2 categories: Babaylan and Diwata. For “Babaylan”, there were 7 contestants, while in “Diwata” there were 5 contestants. Considering that it was the first time to stage this event, I believe the contenders were able to put up very good entries.
TOP 3 ENTRIES – “BABAYLAN” CATEGORY
Champion – “Babaylan” Category, Entry Number 2
1st Runner-up ,Babaylan Category, Entry Number 1
2nd Runner-up, “Babaylan Category, Entry Number 7
Other entries in the “Babaylan” who did not make it to the top three were also great when it comes to creativity and craftmanships. Unfortunately, maybe some designers do not the compelete understanding of what of Babaylan is. Some designers came up with a witch-like costume and make-up which actually deviates from the concept of Babaylan. Nonetheless, I guess, It would also be great to show their works here in my blog.
TOP 3 ENTRIES – “DIWATA” CATEGORY
Champion, “Diwata” Category, Entry Number 3
1st Runner-up, “Diwata” Category, Entry Number 2
2nd Runner – up, “Diwata” Category, Entry Number 5
OTHER ENTRIES
Disclaimer: As a blogger, I am just featuring this festival basing on its historical and cultural merits.My faith as an individual is Bible-based.
HOW TO GET TO BAGO CITY
Bago City ( a city in Negros Occidental, Philippines) is 21.5 kilometers or a 30-minute drive away from the Center of Bacolod; an hour drive from Bacolod – Silay Airport and a 15-minute drive from the International Port of Pulupandan. All Public Utility Jeepneys and Buses going south of the island pass through the city.
Filipinos are very creative and artistic. Those are some beautiful costumes!
The costume with the fake nose looks really creepy! I love everything here and it must have been fun to be able to attend such an event.
Wow! Such grandiosity! I love the creativity of the costumes. It must have been fun to attend such an event!
It must be really hard deciding which entries will be declared as winners. Celebrations like this not only showcase our own culture but the versatility and creativity of the Filipinos as well.