BUTLAK, The 8th National Sunrise Festival in Iloilo

BUTLAK, The National Sunrise Festival is a three- day event, organized by Maharlika Artists and Writers Federation or Maharlika, it is the first multifaceted culture-based roving arts and writers festival held annually in the different regions of the Philippines. The festival is a celebration of arts made possible by volunteerism and collaboration of cultural workers and amongst professional and upcoming artists in the country. As an alternative festival, the National Sunrise Festival site is kept free of smoking, alcohol and drugs, and non-biodegradable waste. Vegetarian food is served during the whole festival. It will be participated in by local and international artists, writers, musicians, visual artists, students of art, film makers, performing arts groups, photographers, teachers, LGU official representatives, indigenous communities and school children and students. The venues will be at The Iloilo Sports Complex, The Provincial Capitol Grounds, and The Treñas Boulevard.



The purpose of the festival is to ensure a continuing national cultural movement to showcase all aspects of arts in the country: music, theater, literature, dance, film, photography, fashion, broadcast, graphic and digital arts, tattooing and indigenous martial arts. Activities of the three-day festival include an opening parade, art exhibits, creative writing, musical workshop, visual arts workshops, cultural fora, musical concerts, martial arts exhibition, indigenous fashion presentation, a tour of Iloilo, a trade fair and book sale. The highlight of the activity, on the third day, is an early morning greeting to the rising sun through creative movement and music, individual reflection, individual prayer and meditation, as the participating groups meet the rising sun. This is our collective gesture of positive thinking for the healing of our planet.

For more information, about BUTLAK, the National Sunrise Festival, visit their website: http://www.mawfmaharlika.org/index.php
and their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Butlak/227901530584200