Cebuano Festivals

The Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, scheduled on August 9 at the Cebu International Convention Center, will highlight the different festivals of the component cities and municipalities in the province who have signified to join the contest.

Let’s get to know some of these existing festivals.

Haladaya Festival

The northernmost town of Cebu, Daanbantayan, celebrates a festival in honor of the warrior Datu Daya of Kandaya. The datu was known to protect the natives from pirate invasions. In fact, a watchtower sits atop the beaches of Tapilon to warn natives. Haladaya comes from the Visayan words halad (offer) and Daya.

Sarok Festival

To protect farmers and folk from the sun and the rain, the sarok, a conical hat made from bamboo strips and dried banana leaves, becomes the needed fad for the people of Consolacion. The festival was traditionally celebrated every 14th of February to coincide with its charter day celebrations. However, the Sarok Festival evolved into a free interpretation dance, with the musical concept inspired from the Miligoy de Cebu, a published Filipino folk dance originating from the same place. The festival is now celebrated in October.

Soli-Soli Festival

In compliance with the province’s One Town One Product project, San Francisco, Camotes developed a unique occupational festival that features a type of grass that grows wild in the famous Lake Danao. Soli-soli is a tall grass that is used in making mats, hats, bags, backpacks, and other household materials. The concept revolves around the legend of the lake with characters Isyung and Isyang leading the storyline. To date, two islets named after the legendary characters float majestically in the green lake.

Bonga Festival and Kinsan Festival

The first takes great pride in fruits – bountiful harvest, fruit of love, labor, or life. The latter exalts the local fish kinsan. The former is celebrated in Sibonga, the latter in Aloguinsan. But both have something in common – the festivals speak of how the places got their names.

It was believed that when the Spaniards first roamed the different areas in the province, they asked for the name of the place. But the natives, who did not understand Spanish, must have thought that the visitors were asking what they were holding or doing. One native answered, “bonga” and the Spaniard said, “Si (yes) bonga” thus, the name Sibonga. Another native said “ Ulo sa kinsan,” thus the name Aloguinsan.

Dinagat–Bakasi Festival and Palawod Festival

Pioneered by Mrs. Tina Sitoy, the Dinagat Festival became famous at the turn of the new millennium. It however wasn’t able to maintain its true identity and was not able to integrate into its concept of the bakasi, a local eel. After much debate, the festival came to be called the Dinagat-Bakasi festival.

Palawod, on the other hand, expresses the merry sentiments of the fisherfolk in Bantayan.

Mantawi festival

Is it a bush? A shrub? Or a vine?

No one can exactly pinpoint what Mantawi really is, besides the fact that the term resembles much like the word Mandaue. Enter Datu Lambuzzan and a bandwagon of historical figures. But Mantawi earns greater fame than its festival counterparts. The four-figure dance steps must have been an essential ingredient to its success, not to mention its carefully planned dance workshops and foundation support.

Caballo festival

This festival, celebrated in Compostela town, originated from Compostela, Spain. Religion plays an important role to its concept as the Spanish friar Manuel Alonzo brought the image of Santiago (San Iago or St. James) to the town. The priest had a son who eventually became the first Teniente del Barrio or mayor. As to how Saint James the Apostle got to ride on a white horse is as rich as Spanish history itself. But the festival went dormant after the change of leaders in the town.