Friday, September 14, 2007

KALESA FESTIVAL IN MANILA




















*

posted by Señor Enrique at 9:50 PM


20 Comments:

Blogger Photowalker said...

Very nice shots. It must have been fun to be there. So many colors. The event looks so festive. Too bad I was stuck at work or else I would've been there too.

September 14, 2007 10:41 PM  

Blogger Android Eyes said...

Stupendous, simply stupendous Sr. Enrique... I'd luv to know more about the fest. I remember as kid riding in one of them 'calesas', at the time it was a thrill ride for me, also my uncle who leads a chorale group, the song "Calesa" is a staple in their repertoire, encore, merci bien for rekindling fond childhood memories.
Je vous remerciez Monsieur Enrique!

September 14, 2007 11:29 PM  

Blogger Android Eyes said...

Kalesa'y may pang-akit na taglay
Maginhawa't di maalinsangan
Nakahahalina kung pagmasdan
Kalesa ay pambayang sasakyan

Kabayo ay di natin problema
Pulot at damo lang ay tama na
Matulin din sa kalsada
Tumatakbong maginhawa
Wala pang gasolina

Kalesa ay panghatid tuwina
Nung panahon nina maria clara
Mga bayani nitong bayan
Sa kalesa'y dinuduyan

Kalesa'y nakaaaliw
Lalo na pag gumagabi
At kung kasama ko ang aking giliw
Mangangalesa na rin kami

Matulin din sa kalsada
Tumatakbong maginhawa
Wala pang gasolina

September 14, 2007 11:33 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

A very colorful event. Would have been a great photo op as well with those extravagant kalesas in display.

September 15, 2007 11:32 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

So colorful! And the kalesas are so beautifully decorated!

[:

September 15, 2007 12:00 PM  

Blogger ScroochChronicles said...

Beautiful pics!! The first and the last time I was on a calesa was a zillion years ago in Tarlac. I must have been aroung 5 years old so you can imagine how long ago that was :)

September 15, 2007 1:18 PM  

Blogger yunisee said...

Ean directed me here. :)

I saw them at Kalaw on my way to SM Manila. He he. Colorful indeed and caused a bit of congestion. But beautiful nonetheless. I should have been quick enough to catch some shots though. (I was sitting on the farthest side of the FX. *sigh*)

Nice shots, by the way. :)

September 15, 2007 8:45 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

sana ma preserve pa rin ang mga kalesa sa maynila. sa totoo lang di pa ako nakakasakay sa kalesa.

September 15, 2007 9:39 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tama lang na may Kalesa Festival bilang isang tradisyon natin.
Good job, y que hondas Senor Enrique!

September 16, 2007 1:31 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

wonderful photos, eric! it's so colorful. makes me want to suggest this kind of affair with gay pride committee. hehehe! just a passing thought, don't worry =)

September 16, 2007 2:46 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Many thanks everyone!

This annual festival is hosted by the Philippine Tourism Authority in recognition the significance of the kalesa to our economy, culture, identity and history. It features a kalesa competition open to all government units, private entities, colleges and universities in the country.

Various prizes and awards were given to participants. As for the decorated kalesas, this year's top winners were:

First: Centro Escolar University
Second: Gardens of Malasag
Third:Zamboanga Golf Course

I only discovered about this festival when I saw its live feed from a GMA-7 morning news show, "Unang Hirit," segment while having breakfast. I then rushed right over to T.M. Kalaw to take some photos.

It was a wonderful, colorful festival, indeed!

September 16, 2007 6:31 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

By the way, Nell, The Amazing Theater Philippines also participated with an Egyptian-themed kalesa and a mini "Cleopatra" performance by its gay/transvestive performers. So, you may want to suggest this kind of affair with gay pride committee ... hehehe!

September 16, 2007 6:35 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

you never fail to amaze me, sr enrique. your pictures not only entertain, they educate as well.

September 16, 2007 7:49 AM  

Blogger dodong flores 도동 플로오리스 said...

The photos say it all...
I wish I was here...

September 16, 2007 8:59 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

very colorful and beautifully captured pictures, sr enrique. first time, i have seen a kalesa festival..ang ganda pala and very merry occasion.

muchos recuerdos, sr.

September 16, 2007 11:33 AM  

Blogger Amadeo said...

Strictly coincidental, but when I first viewed this entry, I caught a glimpse of the actual parade being viewed by the wife on TV in one of two Filipino channels here.

So I thought that Eric must be following the TV truck across Metro Manila. HeHeHe.

But couldn't help compare your pic of the dusky-skinned beauties with the beauties that the TV host was interviewing. They were from other countries, though one was a pure Filipina born and raised in Canada.

BTW, trying to remember what the old name of T. M. Kalaw St. in Ermita was, because the AgriFina Circle would be around this area.

September 16, 2007 1:37 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Would be nice, Amadeo, if I have contacts in the dispatcher's office of those TV network news trucks ... hehehe.

Those beauties being interviewed on TV were of the Miss Earth contingent, including the reigning queen from Chile.

Yes, that AgriFina Circle you speak of is right off T.M. Kalaw. Don't know the original name of this street, but will find out.

September 16, 2007 2:46 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Is there a "duffel bag" that catches those poor horses dung? Just haven't noticed, hehe...very nice pics as usual. Been visiting your site quite often, only unable to post comment since most of them "said it already", haha...
Cheers and goodhealth to all....

September 16, 2007 11:50 PM  

Blogger mitch said...

nice pics as always i didn't know there was a kalesa festival in manila to think i lived there before hahaha,

there were several occasions that we had an encounter with kalesa's the last time we were in manila during october with my husband's relatives

several offeredaround 200 php just to go from manila cathedral to san agustin church imagine but of course i didnt give in nilakad na lng namin

then there was a time my husband' aunt want to go to malacanang she was charged i guess around 300 php

September 17, 2007 5:46 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

we've made it again!

for the 3rd time
(1st Kalesa Festival-March 2005, 2nd Kalesa Festival-September 2005,3rd Kalesa Festival-2007)!

CEU, sa turismo ay aktibo!

ANIMO CENTRO!

September 29, 2007 2:26 AM  

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Life in Manila as observed by a former New Yorker who with a laptop and camera has reinvented himself as a storyteller. Winner of the PHILIPPINE BLOG AWARDS: Best Photo Blog in 2007 and three Best Single Post awards in 2008.

 
 

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