Tigtigan Terakan Keng Dalan is one celebration being looked forward to every last Friday and Saturday of October in Angeles City. Dubbed as Pampanga’s version of Mardi Gras, visitors are kept in high energy all night long dancing and singing. The event becomes more enjoyable with local celebrity bands performing and food stalls serving a variety of cuisine to satiate the hunger of party people from all walks of life.
On its 25th year, Tigtigan Terakan Keng Dalan is happening on the 27th and 28th of October this 2017. These two nights of music, dancing and partying the Angeleno way will take place along McArthur Highway, Balibago, Angeles City, Pampanga.
It may be ironic but Tigtigan Terakan Keng Dalan came to bring “life” into the streets of Angeles City after one of the most hazardous disasters struck the Philippines in the 1990’s. The eruption of Mount Pinatubo brought an almost insurmountable misery to the people. It almost destroyed the whole city that the Americans decided to leave and close Clark Air Base.
But as Filipinos are known for their resilience, the disaster failed to break the spirit of the Pampangeños. Then mayor of the city Ed Pamintuan created the first Tigtigan Terakan Keng Dalan in order to inspire people – not only to survive but to rise above the disaster. With the clarion call of “Agyu Tamu!” – which means “We Can!” – the first festival took place after barely four months of the eruption. The first celebration was very successful and it unveiled the grief brought about by the wrath of Mount Pinatubo.
Since then, Tigtigan festival continues to grow. It has even attracted at least 60,000 people in the previous years – local and foreign tourists alike.
It is worthy to note that the festival was still held in 2013 to celebrate the belief that life is still worth fighting for even after the terrible tragedy brought by Typhoon Yolanda. It was initially decided to be held a little late on December instead of October, mainly because the elections had a standing liquor ban which may affect the event.
Tigtigan Terakan Keng Dalan is one festival that shows Filipinos’ faith in God and their unwavering capacity to keep moving forward despite life’s tragedies.