Alicia, Isabela

Balitok Ti Alicia Festival

Alicia’s Golden Harvest Comes Alive

PUBLISHED April 22, 2017

PHOTOS | WORDS BY MARIANO SAYNO

Sunlight glints off the golden costumes of dancers as they fill Alicia’s streets with energy and rhythm. The Balitok Ti Alicia Festival isn’t just about performance—it’s about celebrating the land, the harvest, and the heart of a community that takes pride in every grain of rice. Even from the sidelines, the pageantry, floats, and smiles of locals make the festival feel intimate and deeply rooted in tradition.

Explore the Philippines through my lens as we venture into Balitok Ti Alicia Festival with Point of View (POV) photography. Using a body cam, I’ll guide you on an interactive tour, revealing the behind-the-scenes of capturing the shots shared here. Let’s dive into this visual journey together and uncover the wonders through my lens!

Let’s explore the PHILIPPINES through my lens as we journey on a photo slideshow to Balitok Ti Alicia Festival. Join me in this visual adventure and discover the wonders captured through my lens! Check out the shared slideshow here.

Celebrating Alicia’s Golden Identity

Walking through the streets of Alicia, the Balitok Ti Alicia Festival feels alive in every corner. Gold-hued costumes shimmer under the sun, and dancers weave through the crowd, their movements narrating the story of Alicia’s fertile fields and hardworking people. Balitok, meaning “gold” in Ilocano, perfectly captures the essence of the town — a golden identity nurtured by rice, corn, and the steadfast spirit of its residents.

Check out the video for more highlights. See what I’ve captured through my lens with Point of View (POV) photography. Using a body cam, I’ll take you on an interactive tour, showing you behind-the-scenes moments of capturing the shots shared here.

Check out the video below for additional features. Explore what I’ve captured through my lens in this cinematic slideshow.

Historical Roots and the Meaning of Balitok

Alicia was once known as Angadanan Viejo, later renamed in honor of Doña Alicia Syquía Quirino after the signing of Executive Order No. 268 on September 28, 1949. The festival’s focus on agriculture, especially rice production, reflects the community’s enduring connection to the land. Every golden stalk dancing on parade symbolizes not just prosperity, but the historical journey of a municipality that values tradition and collective pride.

Festival Highlights

The festival’s heartbeat is the Grand Street Dance Parade. Local schools, barangays, and civic organizations perform synchronized routines in gold-accented attire, each step paying homage to farming life, harvest rituals, and Alicia’s cultural heritage. Floats roll down the streets like moving canvases, adorned with rice stalks, corn husks, and artisan-crafted decorations that celebrate both abundance and creativity.

During the week, trade fairs invite visitors to taste local delicacies — pancit cabagan, freshly harvested rice products, and handicrafts — connecting gastronomic delights to cultural storytelling. As dusk falls, cultural nights and pageantry such as Mutya ti Balitok showcase local talent and grace, wrapping the day in communal celebration and pride.

National Recognition at Aliwan Fiesta

In April, the Balitok Ti Alicia Festival took center stage at Aliwan Fiesta, the Philippines’ premier cultural showcase. Their street dance contingent, with vibrant choreography and storytelling, represented Alicia with poise and energy. The performance earned them a runner-up award, elevating the town’s visibility alongside festivals like Panagbenga and Cinco de Noviembre, while still celebrating Alicia’s unique identity and agricultural roots.

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Why Balitok Ti Alicia Festival Matters

The festival embodies resilience, unity, and gratitude. Through dance, floats, and pageantry, it preserves and communicates the heritage of Alicianos, highlighting rice as more than a crop — it is the community’s “golden grain” binding economic life, tradition, and cultural pride. The festival serves as both a communal celebration and a national statement of Alicia’s rich heritage.

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