GoPro Walk Tour: Alfonso, Cavite Town Fiesta 2026

In the Philippines, a town fiesta is always an annual highlight in every province. From the installation of the banderitas, preparation of food during bisperas, marching bands playing on all streets, the homecoming and infinite gossip from relatives, the visitors during the feast day, and the unquenchable fun of drinking liquors until midnight. There is a total air of euphoria that envelopes the town.

As a classic town, Alfonso, Cavite shares its own traditions. The town’s patron saint is San Juan Nepomuceno, a martyr from the Czech Republic whose fiesta is celebrated every 16th of May. A fiesta is a Spanish/Catholic tradition as a form of thanksgiving celebration for good harvest. Most fiestas are held during May because May is in between summer and rainy seasons. It’s a perfect month when most flowers bloom and trees bear fruits.

San Juan Nepomuceno, Alfonso, Cavite

Alfonso, Cavite Parochial Church

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Back in the 90s it was more extravagant. It is a tradition to culture a pig then butcher it the day prior to the fiesta. Lots of town’s men and women help each other to cook the deli and make the dessert. Men cook the deli while women make the dessert. That’s why in Southern Tagalog, men are better cooks since they manage the deli during fiesta. Delis are cooked in large amounts that's why an extra large cauldron is used for cooking.

As much as I want to document these events through videography, I want to respect the privacy of the homes of my relatives unless they want me to shoot videos. The best thing I can do is to shoot videos of the church and the procession. As usual I have my GoPro Hero 9 Black and Chesty. The whole afternoon, I spent a lot of time hanging out with relatives in Calle Zamora. When I was about to visit my cousins on Calle Burgos, the procession passed in Calle Mabini. It was ⅔ of the event. As much as I wanted to run after the first caro, it was a bit far. So I just remained in the place and captured what’s in front of me. The procession is composed of Filipino martyrs and patron saints of Alfonso, Cavite’s barrios. There is San Miguel, San Pedro Calungsod, San Jose, the Virgin Mary and San Juan Nepomuceno.

GoPro Walk Tour: San Juan Nepomuceno Parokya, Alfonso, Cavite

While shooting the event, realization came to me. With the use of technologies like GoPro and Adobe Premiere Pro, I can preserve beautiful cultures - not because of content or monetization. Simply because it’s the role given to me as an artist. For 9 years, I spent creating graphics and videos for corporations, businesses, entertainment or for my ego and it seems nothing worked. Years passed by and I feel emptier despite the fact that I was able to experience domains of multimedia. It is my obsession to travel Colombia and Mexico that inspired me to shoot videos about my culture. The Philippines shares the same culture with Colombia and Mexico because of Spanish colonization of our country. There are also lots of Latino travel vloggers who proudly document their fiestas. And I can do the same until I reach Colombia and Mexico.

GoPro Walk Tour: Fiesta ng 7 Arcángel, Alfonso Cavite

Reality check, I still need to study a lot about GoPro videography not just in the technical aspect but the discipline to be there on the event ahead of time. By the next day of fiesta, May 17, this is allocated for the 7 Archangels. And there's a procession. There was a light rain but I decided to shoot. I was looking for a snack and ate an Ilocanong Empanada at the food bazaar. Then I went to the church and attended the mass. Before the procession, I shoot both photos and videos. It was a lot of fun because my former neighbors are there. I feel so at home even if I am alone shooting videos.

San Miguel

San Sealtiel

San Uriel

San Raphael

San Gabriel

San Judiel

San Baraquiel

San Juan Nepomuceno

San Jose

I was able to shoot the whole event. It was very challenging because the street is dark and wide. Looks like I really need to buy a GoPro monopod. The experience is very fulfilling. I was amazed with the photos and from that point on I decided not to buy a DSLR. My world will go around GoPro as long as it will stay industry.