The 3rd Pailah Festival of Pila, Laguna (Part 1 of 2)

Pailah Festival is an annual celebration in the heritage town of Pila, Laguna. Now on its third year, the Pailah Festival aims to make Pila, Laguna a tourist attraction and to showcase the livelihood of the town, which is mostly farming and fishing, and the heritage houses.

Bulilan Sur is one of the 17 barangays that makes up Pila, Laguna.

Pailah is the acronym for Palay (rice grains), Isda (fish), Lilok Antigo (antique crafts) and Halaman (plants). Pailah also appeared in an ancient artifact called the Laguna Copperplate Inscription and historians believe that it refers to the town.

The 3^rd Pailah Festival was held from March 21-22, 2013 and I only attended Day 2 of the festivities. It’s a fine Friday morning when we arrived at Pila, Laguna. The first activity of Day 2 was the parade and street dancing competition. It was followed by a salo-salo (lunch) of rice, pork and beef in the town plaza by everyone present. It was the first time I’ve attended a lunch for the entire townspeople.

We were also entertained by a group of Rondalia performers playing such songs as “Bakya Mo Neneng” and “Pusong Bato”. Pila Mayor Edgardo “Egay” A. Ramos was there to deliver the annual report/accomplishments of the municipal government. They even released a 60-pages “Ulat ng Punongbayan” magazine to highlight the activities in the town of Pila, Laguna.

Here are some of the pictures of the street dancing competition on the morning of the 3^rd Pailah Festival in Pila, Laguna. All the 17 barangays that makes up the town of Pila were represented in this competition.

The jars and other handicrafts are the “LA” in PAILAH, which means “Lilok Antigo”.

The winners of the Ms. Pila Laguna competition. I like the guy in red.

Boys with bamboo poles.

“Pila, Laguna, Bayang Pinagpala” – that’s what they’re chanting.

For a moment, I thought I was at the Panagbenga. I realized I’m at Pila, Laguna.

Nganga! He made quite a performance during the 3rd Pailah Festival. He’ll be a great dancer soon!

Bilao (tray) painted with colorful flowers.

Salakot (local hat) boys.

The fishermen.

The boy is very happy to perform.

Plastic bags, feathers, plastic straws – these are some of the most common materials in their costumes.

Their costumes have tansan (bottle-cover). Most of the costumes are made of reusable materials.

The gorgeous Lakan and Binibini of Pila, Laguna. I find the guy in gray shirt with green sash as the most handsome of the 4 title holders.

Jester-inspired costume

The performers are taking a break while waiting for the afternoon competition.

Technorati Tags: 3rd Pailah Festival,Pila,Laguna

The Magnificent Heritage Town of Pila, Laguna

I never knew that there is a town in Laguna called Pila until a month ago. One of my colleagues in the photography club invited us to the recent 3^rd Pailah Festival in Pila, Laguna. He told us that Pila, Laguna is a heritage town similar to Vigan in Ilocos Sur. I went with them to Pila, Laguna last Friday to attend Day 2 of the 3^rd Pailah Festival and I was amazed at how fascinating and beautiful the town is.

The town of Pila, Laguna as seen from the roof deck of Sleepy Knights Bed & Breakfast.

Aside from Vigan, I’ve never seen a town center that is well preserve like Pila, Laguna. Starting from the Parish Church, dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua, to the Municipal Hall, 7-11 and restaurants, almost all the old houses in the town center were preserved.

Our generous host during the Pailah Festival was Cora Relova, one of the town’s prominent citizens. She told us the reason why there are so many heritage houses in Pila. According to her, some citizens of Pila believe that the town was miraculously saved by their patron, St. Anthony of Padua, during the bombing of Luzon in World War II (where Manila was the center of devastation). Others believe that it was just poor luck that the town is not on the list of specific towns to be bombed.

Whatever the reason, the town of Pila, Laguna should definitely be on every photographer’s list. It’s very accessible from Manila. It’s between the towns of Victoria and Sta. Cruz. I’m very thankful that I was able to see this magnificent town. Take a look at some of the houses in Pila, Laguna.

Another view of Pila, Laguna from Sleepy Knights Bed & Breakfast.

I love the design of this house, which I believe is in the 1900s.

I loved how 7-11 was incorporated in this house. It really maintained the old design of the house.

I love the color scheme of this old house.

I wish that other old houses in the country would be preserved as well.

The Church of Pila otherwise known as the Diocesan Shrine of San Antonio de Padua

The heritage house of Cora Relova. The Relovas are one of the most prominent families in Pila, Laguna.

The Municipal Hall of Pila, Laguna is all dressed up for the 3rd Pailah Festival.

This is where the judges for the 3rd Pailah Festival stayed and watched the street dancing competition.

Wide windows are prominent features of the Bahay-na-Bato.

Spectators lined up to watch the street dancing competition up close and personal.

Details of a century old house in Pila, Laguna.

One of the numerous heritage houses in Pila, Laguna.

Even stores adapt to the over-all character of the town center.

Other old houses in Pila, Laguna.

I heard Daniel Padilla’s latest tele-novela was shot in this house.

Church of Pila a.k.a. Diocesan Shrine of San Antonio de Padua

Even if the owner of this house decides to rebuild the house, they should still retain the original design of the house. I hope they’ll get a seminar on house preservation.

The house of Cora Relova, a prominent citizen of Pila, Laguna.

This modern home is a threat to the existing ambience of the town. The Municipal Government of Pila, Laguna should enact a law that would prohibit a modern house design at least in the area around the church.

Technorati Tags: Heritage Town,Pila,Laguna,Cora Relova