Aliwan Fiesta 2023 Day 3: Grand parade, awarding ceremony deliver the same cultural experience after four-year hiatus

The most awaited comeback of the grandest festival of champions in the archipelago, Aliwan Fiesta, this 2023 didn't disappoint.

Following the event's four-year hiatus, Aliwan Fiesta 2023 once again delivered the joy, excitement, and thrill the locals have missed due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) staged a successful return with the last day rewarding the live spectators at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Complex and online viewers memories to cherish. Aliwan Fiesta's Day 3 was for the books, with the highly-anticipated grand parade and awarding ceremony reinstated to gather the best of the best cultural performances, artisans, and beauties in one date and one place.

Here is what happened on Aliwan Fiesta 2023 final day last July 15, 2023:

The grand parade kicked off the night-long festivities despite the inclement weather.
Cultural performers representing 13 festivals across the Philippines and 13 floats filled CCP Complex with illuminating colors and folkloric music and vibes.

With hearts out, representatives from regions for the street dance competition made each of their festivals proud, delivering lively festive music plus dance choreographies and authentic, creative prop materials. One by one, each displayed a rich cultural heritage, which became their way of life.

READ: Welcoming the champions: Aliwan Fiesta unveils the participants for this year's street dance and float competition

Participating floats also showed the artistry of Filipinos from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Each float stunned the crowd with unique and artistic designs. Not to mention, they let the people see the Reyna ng Aliwan 2023 candidates.

An esteemed panel of judges came together to score every participant with utmost objectivity and fairness, including:

Filipino musicians, solo acts and bands, set the front of Aliw Theater on fire with originals and renditions.

Disk jockey (DJ) drummer and former child star Tom Taus started the loud street party ahead of the awarding ceremony. Participants and festival goers joined the electrifying beats he produced.

Stepping on the stage with Taus was Tanya Chinita of 90.7 Love Radio who sang "Tuloy Pa Rin" by Neocolours. Singer-songwriter Wency Cornejo followed suit by singing his original Pilipino music (OPM) classic "Next in Line". Then, the two joined to sing the Aliwan Fiesta theme song.

Banda ni Kleggy and 6cyclemind kept the crowd alive for the rest of the evening until the early morning of July 16.

Timeless and new music indeed hit the notes correctly, serving songs that resonate with Aliwan Fiesta watchers.

The event everyone is waiting for is in its final stage, with Tambalan's Nicole Hyala and Chris Tsuper of Love Radio hosting the awarding ceremony.

The first to be named by Nicole and Chris were the queens of Aliwan Fiesta 2023. A special award winner, three second runners-up, a first runner-up, and the Reyna ng Aliwan Fiesta 2023 were called to grace the stage and accept their accolades.

Winners are as follows:

• Best in Festival Costume: Natalya Margaret Lindsay (Tagultol Fishing Festival)
• Second runner-up: Patricia Marie Mendiola (Pasayahan Festival), Ghenesa Marie Mueller (Udyakan Festival), and Natalya Margaret Lindsay (Tagultol Fishing Festival)
• First runner-up: Kristine Billy Tabaday (Ayat Festival)
• Reyna ng Aliwan 2023: Kiara Liane Wellington (Sinulog Festival)

Moving on to the float competition, seven third runners-up, a second runner-up, a first runner-up, and a grand champion were announced.

For the float category, these are the winning contingents:

• Third runner-up: Kangga Festival (Mogpog, Marinduque), Salakab Float (Muntinlupa City), Salakot (Maguindanao Del Norte), Tagultot at Tagayan (Atimonan, Quezon), Renamentaw Mapalaw (Maguindanao Del Norte), Sigkel sa Igan (Maguindanao Del Norte), and Daradiat o Bangsa-Rajahmuda (Maguindanao Del Norte)
• Second runner-up: Lapat Festival (Calanasan, Apayao)
• First runner-up: Sipa sa Manggis (Cotabato City)
• Grand champion: Halamanan Festival (Guiginto, Bulacan)

Street dance competition winners were the last to be announced, with three special citation awardees, five runners-up, a fifth place, a fourth place, a third place, a second place, and a grand champion, particularly the following:

Rain or shine, the show must go on. MBC braved the ever-changing weather to impart unity and pride among Filipinos by bringing together cultural diversity in CCP Complex in Pasay City.

Aliwan Fiesta 2023 indeed bridged different regions of the Philippines. The country's geography and topography resulted in a regionalist mentality but with gatherings like Aliwan Fiesta, solidarity and understanding against differences proved to be present and observed.

Moreover, the return of the Philippines' grandest festival of champions, Aliwan Fiesta, in 2023 signifies how resilient and united Filipinos are. With optimism, hope can arise from ashes.

Congratulations to all the winners! To everyone who joined us amid the rain, maraming salamat! 'Til the next Aliwan Fiesta in 2024!