Dinagat Festival: The legacy continues
Philippine festivals mirror the unique traditions and cultures of certain places. Consider the numerous islands and festivals, truly ours is a country diverse in some aspects but united by the people's shared aspirations. Celebrating the bounty and showing gratefulness to the patron saints are usual reasons, fittingly a socio-religious undertaking.
The source of inspiration of such festival is the very life of the place itself. The people's way of living has served as the inspiration of the dance movements. This is the case of the Dinagat Festival in Cordova, Cebu.
Last August 10, 2014 I got an invitation from my former U.P. high school student and now the vice mayor of Cordova, Honorable Mary Therese Sitoy-Cho. Delighted that what I have sowed in her mind and heart is very much alive, manifested by her all-out support to heritage and cultural affairs.
For Cordova's Dinagat Festival, the dance movements are very much sourced from the rich experiences of the people. As a fishing community and relying heavily on the richness of their sea, they manifest in their movements the fishing undertakings as well as the unique movement of their popular sea creature, the eel (bakasi). The gliding movements are very much distinct in their steps.
Participated in by five competing schools, they were San Roque Child Development School, Cordova Central School, Cordova National High School, Benthel Asia School of Technology and Cordova Catholic Cooperative School. Display of colorful costumes, props and the dexterity of dance routines were truly remarkable. But what truly sustained throughout the grueling heat of the sun was the enthusiasm of the participants from street dancing until the dance showdown.
The festival queen competition has added another flavor to the celebration where five beautiful ladies viewed for the title. The special appearance of their vice mayor who danced to the tune of the bakasi song was truly a morale boosting to the constituents. This was also her way of honoring the town's patron saint, Señor San Roque. Another highlight was the participation of the People with Disabilities and the women groups in the parade. They have long been mainstreamed and taken care of in various socio-cultural activities.
Despite some trials that the Cordovanhons have undergone like the destruction of the marine life due to the oil spill brought about by the ship collision. Added to the injury are the snail-paced response of the shipping companies and the inability of the concerned government agencies to provide due attention. But amid all these, the Cordovanhons are like eels for they continue to glide and move to survive. They are resilient.
As open-minded that she is, I took the opportunity to provide her with my inputs for improvement of next year's celebration. There is a need to fully maximize the use of local materials. Espousing and patronizing the locally available materials like seaweeds, shells, and many others would create a consciousness among the populace the appreciation and love of local produce. This is in consonance with our aim to preserve the environment by reducing the use of styro and plastics in their costumes and props. Using recycled and indigenous materials develops creativity and resourcefulness. This shall deepen more of their stories as Cordovanhons which they could pass on, and that would make their festival unique from the rest of the festivals. It could also be more meaningful if it would be community-based than school-based so as to cultivate the spirit of bayanihan. Barangays or groups must be encouraged to form and come up with their presentations based on their place's unique features.
But I know that the environment offers an endless array of ideas and inspirations for movements. There is still a great portion of Cordova, as a fishing village, that is unexplored. The unfathomable abyss of the sea provides limitless ideas to the people's imagination.
Founded in 2009 by Cristina Sitoy, wife of Provincial Board Member Arleigh Sitoy, the festival which until now Cordova Mayor Adelino S. Sitoy has continuously ignited the people's artistic consciousness is a legacy that his daughter, Tetchie, is continuing.
Happy Fiesta! Viva Señor San Roque! Padayon Cordova!
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