Kaplag Festival begins today
CEBU, Philippines - The 449th Kaplag Festival in Barangay San Nicolas Proper, Cebu City begins today with a series of activities that will end on Sunday, April 27.
Known as the “Little Sinulogâ€, the festival commemorates the finding of the image of the Santo Niño.
The Archdiocesan Shrine of San Nicolas de Tolentino and the barangay allocated a budget of P585, 000 for the activities. The city government also donated P250, 000.
San Nicolas Parish Team Moderator Msgr. Adelito Abella said the celebration will have two parts – the religious activity and the cultural activity. The religious activity will commence with a Triduum Mass.
“I-celebrate ang maong Santos nga misa sa pag-commemorate sa Kaplag 2014 ug pag pangayo og panabang sa Diyos nga ang atong kasaulogan mamahimong malamposon,†Abella said.
Tomorrow, Friday, the members of the Pasil, Suba, Sawang Calero VendorsAssociation will organize a ‘boodle fight’ that will feature fish-based dishes after the dance parade. In the evening, a free concert will entertain residents and visitors at 8 p.m. at the San Nicolas Activity Center.
A fluvial parade at 6 a.m. from the Ludo compound to the Pasil Fishport will open the activities on Saturday. It will be followed by a reenactment of the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan and Miguel Lopez de Legaspi to Cebu and subsequently the discovery of the image of the Santo Niño at the San Nicolas grounds. In the afternoon, 12 contingents will hit the streets with Sinulog Dances.
The winning contingents will receive P30,000; P20,000; and P10,000, respectively.
Barangay Captain Abraham Desamparado said the contingents, all from the barangay, have been given a seed money of P35,000 for their props, costumes, and for other materials needed for their presentations.
Aside from the dancing contingents, at least 20 ‘Tartanillas’ carrying images of Saints from different chapels in San Nicolas will also grace the streets at 3 p.m.
Desamparado said one of the more popular activities, the 7th Kaplag Buwad Festival, will give visitors a chance to taste dried fish and chorizo for free on Saturday. Also on that day, those who will buy the products will get a 10 percent discount.
He said the Buwad festival is dedicated to the barangay’s dried fish industry. Dried fish is one of the popular delicacies of Cebu.
Desamparado said they have coordinated with the San Nicolas Police Station to ensure the safety of all those that will attend the celebration. — (FREEMAN)
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