Higantes Festival
Also known as: Feast of Saint Clement · Angono Higantes Festival
Definition
The Higantes Festival is the annual town fiesta of Angono, Rizal, held around November 22 and 23 in honor of the patron Saint Clement. Its defining feature is a procession of higantes, giant papier-mâché figures up to about four meters tall, borne through the streets accompanied by pahadores (fisherfolk in colorful garb) and the traditional basaan water-splashing, culminating at Laguna de Bay.
Identities (Wikipedia/Wikidata/DBpedia)
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higantes_Festival
- Wikidata: Q65071307
- DBpedia: N/A
Also Known As
- Feast of Saint Clement
- Angono Higantes Festival
Examples and Analogies
The higantes are the Philippine counterpart of the gigantes of Spain and Latin America, such as the gigantes y cabezudos of Catalan festivals. Like them, the giants turn the whole town into a stage, but Angono’s version uniquely layers in lake-blessing ritual and its identity as the country’s art capital.
Usage Scenarios
The festival is used to promote Angono’s cultural tourism alongside its art galleries, the Petroglyphs, and the legacy of national artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco. Schools and barangays commission new higantes each year, and the parade doubles as a civic showcase of local organizations and livelihoods.
Strategies
Municipal planning concentrates crowds along managed procession routes, stages competitions for the best giant to encourage craftsmanship, and markets the event within a broader creative-industry agenda tied to Angono’s artists’ community.
Security and Safety Measures
Crowd control marshals, barricaded routes, and first-aid stations handle the dense procession, while the basaan water-throwing is confined to designated zones and hours. Giant-bearers rotate to prevent exhaustion, and float mechanics are inspected before the parade.
Historical Context
A popular origin account holds that the giants began as satire: when Spanish-era hacienda rules limited fiestas, townsfolk fashioned oversized figures mocking the landlord class. The modern festival was revived and institutionalized in the 1980s through the efforts of Angono’s artistic community, including the Perdigon Vocalan family credited with re-popularizing the craft.
Challenges and Controversies
Debates continue over commercialization diluting ritual meaning, and water shortage years have prompted calls to moderate the basaan. Managing rising visitor volumes in a small town also strains parking, sanitation, and heritage sites.
Related Topic
Angono