ILOILO — Fresh from a dominant grand slam victory at the Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan 2026, the Tultugan Festival of Maasin town was set to represent Iloilo Province once again at the prestigious Aliwan Fiesta slated May 7–9 in Pasay City.
But yesterday, Aliwan Fiesta organizer MBC Media Group announced that the event, originally scheduled for May 7-9, 2026, in Pasay City, has been cancelled due to high fuel costs and logistical challenges facing the various participants across the country.
Earlier, Maasin’s Mayor Francis Amboy, through a Facebook post, stated that the Tultugan Festival’s return to the national spotlight had a strong backing from the provincial government following discussions with Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
“With the full support of Gov. Arthur ‘Toto’ R. Defensor Jr., Tultugan will once again showcase the rich culture, powerful drumbeats, and vibrant spirit of the Ilonggo people on the national stage. Let us rally behind our performers as they bring pride and honor to Iloilo and the Municipality of Maasin,” Amboy stated.
Tultugan won the Kasadyahan in January, one of the major highlights of the Dinagyang Festival.
Aside from clinching the championship title, the group dominated special awards, including Best in Production Design, Music, Street Dancing, Costume, Musical Director, and the Circular Creativity Award, bringing home P1.2 million in cash prizes and a trophy.
Known as a cultural and environmental celebration, the Tultugan Festival highlights Maasin’s identity as the “Bamboo Capital of Panay.” It showcases the town’s rich bamboo resources, particularly through the use of the traditional bamboo percussion instrument, the “tultog.”
The festival has consistently proven its competitive edge on the national stage. In 2025, it was declared champion in the Parada ng Kalayaan Festival Performance Competition held at the Quirino Grandstand during Independence Day celebrations. In its previous Aliwan Fiesta stint in 2024, Tultugan placed second runner-up, with Dinagyang Festival taking the top spot.
Last year’s edition of Aliwan Fiesta was also canceled due to scheduling conflicts with Holy Week and the May 2025 midterm elections.
Aliwan Fiesta remains one of the country’s premier cultural showcases, gathering top festivals from across the Philippines in Pasay City for a grand celebration of heritage, artistry, and regional pride./PN