By the looks of it, summer has provocatively come to us. Health experts have warned that starting this week until the middle of May, the heat index would be at its highest. But, summer in the Philippines is synonymous to fiesta celebrations – from the smallest purok to a neighborhood barangay to an obscure town, trust that a feast day is being commemorated to honor a patron saint or a revered saint that the community devoutly prays to through novenas and other prayer offerings.
It is, indeed, more fun in the Philippines. Anyone who has seen how we celebrate our grandest events can attest to that. Fiesta celebrations are never complete without the bold and extravagant festival presentations. Every barangay or city, no matter how big or small, has its own great story to tell which is translated into beautiful rhythmic dances.
The province of Negros Oriental alone hosts nearly 20 different festival celebrations. Below are some of them and the interesting stories behind them.
Yagyag Festival of Sibulan
The word Yagyag in the Visayan language means to lay eggs or spread. This refers to the spawning ritual of crabs and other marine creatures that gather around a spring in Sibulan.
This phenomenon offers livelihood income for the barrio folks, as they trade it with farm crops from neighboring barangays, while at the same time, providing a delicious meal in their own homes.
The Yagyag festival is inspired by the releasing of eggs of thousands of land crabs along the shores and riverbanks of Barangay Cangmating during the last quarter of the year. The festival is a way to preserve and honor the custom of harvesting crabs where dancers imitate the movements of crabs during mating and spawning in lively rhythms.
Sandurot Festival of Dumaguete City
Sandurot comes from the Visayan word pakigsandurot which means “to reach out or to socialize.” The colorful festival is a way to commemorate Dumaguete’s rich history during the pre-Hispanic period where people of various foreign cultures came together to create a diverse community that was once Dumaguete.
The festival is now also a celebration for the city’s patroness, St. Catherine de Alexandria. The event is, furthermore, celebrated by recognizing the various cultural stains that enriched the city’s character. This festival reminds that throughout history, Dumagueteños have always been welcoming to strangers, and are able to live harmoniously with people from different cultures, races, religions. No wonder it is dubbed as the “City of Gentle People.”
Tawo-tawo Festival of Bayawan City
Bayawan City has always been considered the agricultural capital of the province. For this reason, a bountiful yield is always anticipated. However, farmers have to deal with native birds that destroy crops and steal their harvest, causing shortage of food supplies.
This is where people look upon the Tawo-tawo, or the scarecrow, that repels those pesky birds, ensuing a much bountiful yield. This agricultural method was what led to the Tawo-tawo Festival. The festival celebrates the rich agricultural history of Bayawan City, in which it focuses on the great difference the tawo-tawo has brought to the city after driving the crows away.
Pakol Festival of Sta. Catalina
The municipality of Sta. Catalina is a great producer and exporter of bananas. Pakol, a variety of banana, grows abundantly in Sta. Catalina. It has a major contribution to the local economy of the municipality. The Pakol festival of Sta. Catalina celebrates the significant role of bananas in the local economy. The dance of this festival is a mix of folk and traditional dance, accompanied with Latin or Samba drum beats. The monkeys in the dance represent the fragility of the balance of nature.
Langub Festival of Mabinay
The word langub in the Visayan dialect literally means “cave.” The municipality of Mabinay is known as the cave capital of the province, with about a hundred unexplored caves sitting beneath their soil. For this reason, the celebration of the Langub Festival is an honorable tradition of the town.
Hambabalud Festival of Jimalalud
The name of the festival derives from the lofty hambabalud trees found in the municipality of Jimalalud. These magnificent trees are located in a beautiful forest with cool waters and colorful flowers which are said to be inhabited by malevolent spirits. To counteract the evils of the forest, the inhabitants seek the intercession of the Holy Child, their patron. The trees now are considered to be a symbol of God’s gift to Jimalaludnons.
This is just a foretaste of many other festivals in the province and in other parts of the country. After all, where else can you find exceptional creativity in representing natural phenomena and historic events through beautiful rhythms and intricate dances. These colorful festivals will always be a part of the rich culture of the country. | NWI
