The Colorful Pasalamat Festival 2012

After many long years, I am back to witness the colourful Pasalamat Festival Of La Carlota City. I have witnessed the very first Pasalamat festival and it succeeding years    because we have relatives in La Carlota City who would invite us every festival. I was so young then. But I can still remember the intricate indigenous costume they were using before. Most especially I will never forget the drum  beats La Carlota popularized. In fact, when one would say drum beating it must be La Carlota.

Pasalamat Festival is an annual celebration at La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.  A week-long celebration of the Pasalamat Festival to mark the end of harvest and the milling season, and to pay homage to God was officially declared open by Mayor Juliet Marie D. Ferrer last Monday, April 23, 2012. The festivity is now in its 33rd year, initiated by the late City Mayor Luis G. Jalandoni, Jr.     The city takes on a festive atmosphere during the week-long celebration, and the highlight was last April 29  with a Mardi Gras-like parade of  floats and caricatures. Dancers flirtatiously move to the rhythm created by the drumbeaters using carabao leather drums and percussion instruments made out of indigenous materials.

This year, I am back as one of the judges for the costume category. Anton, a happy tripper also served as a judge in the caricature a float competition. The parade was very colourful and a lot of people were in the streets enjoying the festival.

Thank you, La Carlota, for your hospitality. That was truly a HAPPY TRIP for us.

HOW TO GET THERE:

La Carlota City is geographically located at the southwest portion of central Negros Occidental. It is bounded on the north by the City of Bago; the mountain ranges of Kanlaon Volcano in the east, the town of La Castellana in the southwest; the town of Pontevedra in the south and the town of San Enrique in the west.  It can be reached by bus or by jeepneys travelling from Bacolod City.

HOW TO GET THERE:

La Carlota City is geographically located at the southwest portion of central Negros Occidental. It is bounded on the north by the City of Bago; the mountain ranges of Kanlaon Volcano in the east, the town of La Castellana in the southwest; the town of Pontevedra in the south and the town of San Enrique in the west.  It can be reached by bus or by jeepneys travelling from Bacolod City.

PASALAMAT RELATED ARTICLES:

PASALAMAT 2012 SCHEDULE

PASALAMAT DANCE PARADE

PASALAMAT VISUAL ART COMPETITION