The Ana Kalang Festival in Laguna – A Celebration of Bountiful Harvest

ANA KALANG FESTIVAL

Unlike most festivals in the Philippines which usually start during the onset of summer and end in late May, the Ana Kalang Festival of Nagcarlan anchors a five-day celebration beginning from the first Wednesday of October each year. The festivities commemorate a bountiful harvest of the town’s agro-industrial products.

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The name of the festival was derived from a woman named Ana Kalang who, according to myth, was known for her tremendous wealth, kindness, piety and generosity. Nagcarlenos say this woman used to help her town mates in times of trouble. One day, a Spaniard came to her house and upon looking out of the window, he saw branches of a lanzones hitting one another. He asked what was going on and Ana Kalang said “nagkakalang sila”. The Spaniard repeatedly mispronounced the phrase until it eventually became Nagcarlan.

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The Ana Kalang Festival showcases a unique folk art whose lei motif is the giant statue which Nagcarlenos call “kalang-kalang”. The kalang-kalang is usually ten feet high and made of different fruits and vegetables or any indigenous materials for its parts. Barangays, schools, organizations and individuals are pitted in the kalang-kalang making contest and each entry is exhibited at the festival site during the five-day celebration and paraded around the town at the close of the festivities.

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The major attraction of the festival is the grand parade and street dancing contest which is held in the afternoon of the final day. Street dancers dressed in spectacular native costumes dance in the street side by side with the giant kalang-kalang as people scramble merrily over several lechons offered for free to any bystander. The music of the drum and lyre corps from different schools fills the air, as beautiful majorettes in elegant uniforms dance in it’s rhythm.

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Other highlights of the festival includes the agro-trade fair, cooking contest, nightly cultural shows, tours in the town’s historical and scenic spots, antique exhibit, garden show and beauty pageant.

Source of Text Above: laguna.net

Photo from: flickr.com/photos/29344176@N08/3002338917

The festivities commemorate a bountiful harvest of the town’s agro-industrial products. The name of the festival was derived from a woman named Ana Kalang, who, according to a myth, was known for her tremendous wealth, kindness, piety and generosity. – Laguna Provincial Office

Large replicas of churches and giant statues known as kalang-kalang, from which the name of the festival and the town itself was derived from, will welcome you. This is just in front of the Nagcarlan’s Municipal Hall.

Photo from: zayzaexplores.com

Inside church replicas are booths showcasing Nagcarleno’s skills in handicfraft making and basket weaving. One of the booths we entered features Bihis Kalang-kalang. I noticed different schools in Nagcarlan competed for this.

Photo from: zayzaexplores.com

The kalang-kalang is usually ten foot high and made of different fruits and vegetables or any indigenous materials for its parts.

The major attraction of the festival is the grand parade and street-dancing contest. Other highlights of the festival includes the agro-trade fair, cooking contest, nightly cultural shows, tour in the town’s historical and scenic spots, livelihood seminars, competition in traditional Filipino games and sports, antique exhibit, garden show and the beauty pageant.

Photo from: zayzaexplores.com

They also exhibited agricultural crops like fresh fruits and vegetables, coffee and root crops, which are grown the whole year-round, and are for sale both to local and foreign visitors and folks from neighboring towns.

Photo from: zayzaexplores.com

Source of Text Above: zayzaexplores.com

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