The Philippines is known for its very colorful fiestas and celebrations, and Makati City is no exception, with its own very colorful Mardi Gras type of celebration called the Caracol Festival. The Caracol is celebrated yearly and aims to raise awareness for the conservation of the country’s natural resources such as fauna and flora. The festival has a long tradition already in Makati, and was originally started back in 1986. It was part of the Fiesta Islands Program of the DOT in 1989. If you’re wondering, “Caracol” is the Spanish word for snail.
This year’s celebration was held at the newly created Circuit Makati, formerly known as the Santa Ana Race track. The festival has lots of photo opportunities and is a haven for photography enthusiasts! There are lots of color, fun, and a general atmosphere of joy and hope. The positive atmosphere at Caracol is infectious and watching the different costumes come into life is a lot of fun. In fact, all photographers, whether amateurs or professionals, are invited to participate and post their best shots online.
A highlight for this year’s event was the parade for all participants; there was plenty of dancing, cheering, and general merrymaking. Another highlight for this event was the dance contest and prize for the best costume. This 28th Caracol celebration had a total of 12 groups that competed for the coveted first prize of a whopping P75,000. And a nice prize of P25,000 each was awarded to the best choreography and best costume.
The parade was the first part of the celebration which gathered a large crowd of onlookers. Photographers and media were all around the place too. It was quite enjoyable watching the children and even adults wear their costumes and make-up with pride, gamely posing for the cameras. This is the perfect time to grab those memorable shots of the festivities!
Tips and Tricks for Next Year’s Caracol Festival
This year’s festival is over. But nothing to fret over since it will be back next year. That’ll give you time to prepare and get those amazing photos you always wanted to get.
Arrive early. Yes, you will need to arrive early. At least one to two hours early so that you can scout out the area and find a suitable spot for your photo taking opportunities. It’ll give you some time to work out the angles you’d like to see in your photos and where the best spots are. Not only that, your companions will also get a good spot at the stage area for the dance competition while you are taking pictures.
Bring water and food. This is actually a common thing to take with you for all occasions. Sometimes, you won’t have time to buy or there are long lines by the time you realize that you are parched and hungry. And thirsty you will get, since you’ll be chasing the parade line and the kids in colorful costumes. Or, you’ll get chased yourself by Philippine eagles.
Anticipate heavy traffic. This is another reason why you need to arrive early at the venue. Parking is limited, and you will have to fight your way through large crowds of revelers.
Be comfortable. Wear comfortable shoes since you’ll be doing a lot of walking yourself up and down the parade line. By the time you arrive at the staging area you’ll be pretty tired since you walked a while in pretty hot and humid Philippine weather. This also goes for your clothing: wear something that is suitable for hot humid weather and don’t forget your hat or sunglasses.
Bring plenty of film. I mean, bring plenty of batteries for your camera and spare memory cards! You’ll have lots of opportunities for pictures, it’s a must.
Bring only the necessities at the festival, and leave all the unnecessary stuff at home or at the hotel. You won’t need your laptop, tablet, or most of your gadgets anyway. You are there to enjoy the festivities! So enjoy them with all the abandonment children have.
Most of all, enjoy your stay–appreciate the fiesta's themes of nature and life. Live it, love it, and celebrate it!
