PINTADOS

Pintados kasadyaan -

buyogan festival

Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival is actually a twin event

organized by both the

City of Tacloban and the Province of Leyte,

Pintados refers to the tattooed men

 and women in the island. This manifest

the advent of the Pintados Festival,

 which was first celebrated June 29th of the year 1987.

 Pintados is a multicolored

 event held every June 29th in tribute of the

Santo Niño de Tacloban.

 The Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival is a merry-making

affair lasting a whole month,

 highlights of which include the Leyte Kasadyaan

 Festival of Festivals,

 the 17th Pintados Festival Ritual Dance Presentation

 and the”Pagrayhak” Grand Parade.

THE FESTIVAL
The Pintados festival of Tacloban City is a Filipino festival with its own unique flavor. This Pintados festival recalls Pre-Spanish history of the native Leytenos from wars, epics and folk religions. The most expected aspect of the Pintados festival are the festive dancers, painted from head to toe with designs that look like armor to resemble the tattooed warriors of old.

The Leyte Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals, meanwhile, showcases the unique culture and colorful history of the Province of Leyte. Started by former Leyte Governor Remedios Loreto-Petilla, the celebration was first held on May 12, 1996. The festivities weren't always held every June 29th; the first three years saw different dates. It was only in 1999 that it was fixed to June 29, the Feast of the Señor Santo Niño de Leyte.

HISTORY OF THE PINTADOS KASADYAAN FESTIVAL
In 1668, the Spaniards came to the Visayas and found in the islands heavily tattooed men and women, whom they called Pintados. These people had a culture of their own, commemorating victories by holding festivals and honoring their gods after a bountiful harvest.

It was in 1888 that missionaries from Spain brought the Child Jesus image known as "El Capitan" to the island. It had a rich and colorful background that draw out the devotion and worship of the Leyte natives to the Santo Niño.