Majigangga Festival: what to see in Santa Ana

Santa Ana's majiganggas are giant puppets about ten feet tall, each worked by one person inside a frame of wire, bamboo slats and cloth or papier-mâché. Dark and mean-looking, they stand for the evils of the world, banished by the birth of Christ.

When to see them

• From December 16 to Christmas Eve, the giants traditionally follow the lantern procession at night and dance on the church patio before the simbang bengi.
• The Majigangga Festival runs for about a week before New Year. In the 13th edition it opened on December 22 with exhibits and miniature puppets, the Majigangganitos; the giants paraded through the poblacion on December 27 and the dance finale was on December 30 at the parish patio.
• The giants now appear until the Feast of the Epiphany.

Tips

• Stand near the Santa Ana Parish Church patio for the dances.
• The puppets are big and move fast; keep small children back from the dancers.
• All 14 barangays now take part, so there are around 28 giants to spot.