Barangay Paknaan to hold “Silhig” fest

CEBU, Philippines - Barangay Paknaan in Mandaue City takes pride in showcasing its homemade broom or “silhig” made from the buri palm as it celebrates the second “Silhig Festival” this year.

Barangay Paknaan captain Meliquias Soco said the festival was launched last year in a bid to showcase the barangay’s main source of livelihood  and attract investors. 

Soco said Baguio City is known for its fine brooms but barangay Paknaan is known to be the biggest distributor of the “silhig lanot” in the country.

Soco said his barangay just shrugged off a resolution approved by the city council three years ago which ordered the cutting down of buri palms in some barangays in the city for the reason that barangay Labogon, the town of Liloan, Bantayan, and barangay Talamban in Cebu City supply Paknaan with buri palm.

He said the Paknaonon Multi-Purpose Cooperative buys all the brooms made by his constituents at P11.25 and P12 each and the cooperative distributes these nationwide.

This is the reason why the coop’s capital of P20,000 under the leadership of Emiliana Mangubat rose to P2 million in three years time.

“Paliton tanan ilang silhig sa coop in cash aron makabali ra sad dayon nila ug palit sa ilang materyales,” Soco said. 

Mangubat said the cooperative delivered three thousand brooms to Manila, Iloilo, and Iligan cities.

Unlike last year, winners in this year’s competition will receive P25,000 as first prize, P20,000 as second prize. and P15,000 as third prize.

Contestants who fail to win will each receive P10,000.

Last year, the first prize winner took home P15,000, the second prize winner grabbed P10,000, while the third prize winner walked away with P5,000. 

Seven contingents will again compete in this year’s festival in street dancing. Each contingent will get P2,000 as subsidy for props and costume.

At stake is P5,000 for the only winner.

The contingent with the best presentation will also get P5,000 while the festival queen will go home with P5,000. (FREEMAN)