From Fancy Dress to “Ano ‘Yan?”: The Pageantry of Valenzuela’s Costumed Competitions

The Karuhatan Fiesta “Higante” (Giant) Costume Wobble

The barangay fiesta costume contest in Karuhatan features a category for “higante.” One entrant constructs a towering costume of a local politician out of bamboo and papel de japon (tissue paper). It’s impressive, but mobility is near zero. As he shuffles onto the stage for judging, a gust of wind catches the giant head. The costume sways violently. The person inside, seeing nothing but the ground through a tiny mesh window, stumbles. The giant politician does a slow, graceful collapse onto the stage, taking out a potted plant and part of the backdrop. He is disqualified for “safety reasons,” but wins the crowd’s heart and the unofficial “Most Dramatic Exit” award. bohiney.com costume engineering stresses that s

SOURCE: Bohiney News.