Three weeks from now, Aliwan Fiesta or best known as the Philippines’ Grandest Fiesta will officially make its spectacular comeback to the streets of Pasay City!

One of the main highlights to look forward to in this annual cultural extravaganza is the street dance competition.

The street dance competition, which is considered the main competition of Aliwan Fiesta, is where talented contingents from various provinces in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao showcase their very own cultural dances while parading along the streets.

But only one province will be crowned as the street dance champion.

In the past 20 years of Aliwan Fiesta, the Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City had the most wins, with seven street dance championship titles.

The said festival first took home the title in 2004, followed by four straight wins from 2010 to 2013 and in 2017.

Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Aside from Dinagyang, the festivals that also bagged the championship titles are Halad Festival of Midsayap, Cotabato (2003); Pintados de Passi of Passi City, Iloilo (2005); Lumad Basakanon of Cebu's Sinulog (2006-2008); and Tribu Katbalaugan for the Manaragat Festival of Catbalogan (2016).

Who will be joining this year?

The grand national showdown for Aliwan Fiesta 2023 is slated to happen on July 15, the last day of the three-day festival.

The official registration ended last June 16, and the following festivals are expected to participate:

Panagbenga festival of Baguio City, Benguet

• represented by Pinsao Natl High School Sakusak Ensemble

Ayat festival of the province of La Union

• represented by Tawid a Balitok

Binabayani festival of Masinloc, Zambales

• represented by Masinloc Streetdancers

Dinamulag Mango festival of the province of Zambales

• represented by the Ibaile Streetdancers

Halamanan festival of Guiguinto, Bulacan

• represented by Bgy. Sta Cruz

Antipolo Maytime festival of Antipolo City

• represented by Maharlika Dance Troupe

Hamaka festival of Taytay, Rizal

• represented by Indak Hamaka Dance Company

Dinagyang festival of Iloilo

• represented by Tribu Parianon

Kadalag-an festival of Victorias, Negros Occidental

• represented by Victorias Sidlak Kadalag-an Dancers

Manggahan festival of Guimaras

• represented by Hubon Balsahan from the Municipality of Sibunag

Sinulog festival of Cebu

• represented by Lumad Basakanon

Saduratan festival of Buldon, Maguindanao del Norte

• represented by Kultura de Original

Kangga festival of Mogpog, Marinduque

Photo courtesy: Getty Images

What are the prizes at stake?

The prizes at stake this year’s Aliwan were raised in celebration of its 20th anniversary since it started in 2003.

The province that will be hailed as the grand champion will be awarded ₱1.5 million.

Meanwhile, the second runner-ups will receive ₱750,000, the third runner with ₱300,000, the fourth runner-up with ₱150,000, the fifth with ₱100,000, and the remaining will be given ₱50,000 each.

Photo courtesy: Robi Jiy

Other than the dance competition, everyone can look forward to many exciting activities such as the Shoppers' Bazaar, Pasakalye concert, Float Parade, and Reyna of Aliwan.

Aliwan Fiesta is an annual event organized by the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) that aims to showcase various Filipino cultures and heritage not only in the Philippines but to the world.

The event, often dubbed as "Mother of all festivals", will be held from July 13 to July 15.