I came across a Philippine festival calendar and saw Higantes Festival in Angono scheduled on Nov 22-23, 2010. It caught my fancy and i searched the web for additional information before going.
I found out that the higante tradition started way back last century. Angono was then a hacienda owned by wealthy Spaniards. The hacienda owners prohibited the town people to hold many fiesta because it was costly and only one fiesta was to be held in a year. To make the best of this annual event, the people created giant caricatures of their landlords. The head of these giants were made of clay and dried under the sun.
After a century, modernity sets in and the clay is changed to plaster of Paris and resin. The body is made of bamboo or thin yantok and sometimes thin iron. Yards of cloth and other accessories are used to complete the costume of the Higante.
Currently, all barangays in Angono have a share of Higante. Normally, the Higantes represent the character or industry of their barangays.
During the parade, there are people (mostly male) who cover themselves with mud and they will try to gently slap you with mud for fun. Also, people spray water to the participants and sometimes on the crowd. So bring gears to protect you from getting wet.
How to get there:
1) via EDSA crossing/ Shaw Blvd--jeepneys with sign board going to Angono (i should have known this)
2) via P. Tuazon , Cubao beside ShoeMart - jeepneys as well ; fare up to market is Php33 ( i know the fare as i took this one)
3) via Ortigas - aircon buses until Taytay Junction and then take a jeepney bound to Angono
Here are some of the photos i took. It was hard to get a good position while the higantes paraded themselves because i am afraid some funny guys would pour/spray water on me and my camera would get wet. While i got a nice clear plastic bag from the nearby Jollibee to wrap my camera, I still dont want to risk it getting wet.
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