Oton Soars with the 9th Borador sa Katagman Celebration

Kite flying enthusiasts will once again launch their strings of creative and colorful kites through a friendly competition at Barangay Trapiche in Oton on April 30, 2011 at 8 a.m. Multi-colored and elaborately designed kites are launched to the vast sky as onlookers surround the contest ground and its adjacent areas. The festive mood of the venue promises a wonderful day for Oton. The annual BORADOR SA KATAGMAN will be one of the highlights of KATAGMAN Festival to be held in April 28-May 3, 2011.

During the summer, when the sky is clear and the warm wind is moderately blowing, many fields in Iloilo become a camp ground for kite-flyers of all ages. This informal gathering of kite-flying enthusiasts has inspired the Local Government of Oton through its event coordinator, Miss Ami Rodrigo. And for nine years, kite flying has stage a colorful and exciting twist to the annual festival celebration. Their objective is to revitalize Ogtonganons’ love for indigenous activities, which has been part of their culture however seemed virtually unknown among the youth nowadays. The activity encourages one to go out and enjoy nature.

A kite is light framework covered with cloth, plastic, or paper, designed to be flown in the wind at the end of a long string. It is not certain as to where the first kites came from but it has long been part of our culture.

The kites during the competition range from the traditional bamboo and paper type to modern ones made of light plastic and fabric; to gigantic novelty and three-dimensional kites, Ilonggos are known to highly-skilled in building beautiful kites.

KITE STORIES

- The people of the South Sea Islands were believed to be the earliest to have used kites.   

  They used to use it in fishing where the bait is attached to the tail of the kite;

- Kites were associated with gods in the Polynesian Islands. Their gods Tane and Rongo 

  were the patron saint of the arts, kites, and kite flying;

- Kite flying was considered a sacred ritual to Maoris. They made their kites using the   

  shape f birds. Their god Rehua is depicted as a bird, and was thought to be the 
ancestor of all kites could carry messages between humans and gods;

- Both the Chinese and the Japanese learned to use kites for raising soldiers into the air as spies of snipers. Some old Japanese and Chinese prints show warriors flying over their 

  enemies’ territory;

- It is a Korean tradition to write the names and birth dates of male children on the kites 

  and then to fly them. The line is then cut to ensure a good year by taking all the bad 

  spirits with it;

- In Thailand, each monarch had his or her own kite which was flown continuously during 

  the winter months by imperial monks and priests. During the monsoon season the people of Thailand to send their prayers to their gods through kites.

Kite flying combine the study of science, art, and culture. It investigates cultural importance of kites around the world and the development of flight. It teaches us how to retell kite legends and stories from various cultures.

It is important to take time out on a regular basis to do something fun and exciting. An activity such as kite-flying frees us of earthly worries, filled with childish wonder.