People
who go to the town of Sara, Iloilo on June 24 cannot stay dry as the whole
community of devotees perform their annual rites by dousing one another with
water or sprinkle water on guests to honour their Patron Saint, John the
Baptist.
The
Sulay-Basya Festival now on its 14th year highlights the annual rites with
series of special events from June 19-24, 2016.
With the theme, “Pagpasag-uli, Pagpanibag-o,
Pagkinasadya: Arangka Sara!,” the celebration opens on June 19 (Sunday) Opening
of Food Festival with Live Band in the evening;
June 20 (Monday) Parade at 7 a.m. and Opening Program , the Sulay Basya
Got Talent sponsored by NIPSCV-VSC is at the evening; June 21 (Tuesday)
Pintados de Walkaton at 5:30 a.m., Laro Ng Lahi at 9:30 a.m., Boodle Fight at
noontime, Basketball Championship Game, Mass Dance Competition at 3 p.m.,
Showcase of Talents with guest DJ courtesy of Globe Telecom in the evening;
June 22 (Wednesday) Hashtag Luke and Showtime Dancers with MKF Production
Artists in the evening; June 23 (Thursday) Taebo in the morning, Talent
Showdown with Search for Little Miss DepEd in the evening; June 24 (Friday)
Tribe Competition at 9 a.m. followed by the Basyahanay Parade, Coronation Night
in the evening with Guest Artist.
Both
coined from Hiligaynon words, “Sulay” is a term for “to get wet” and “Basya” is
“to douse with water,” the festival, celebrated as Masskara sa Sulay Basya
features performing groups in masks.
Masks
are the order of the day at the tribal dance competition as brightly-costumed
performers dance to the samba beat, considered as the dance of celebration and
joy with lively and rhythmical movements. The dancer’s painted masks and
elaborate costumes, all vying for prizes in judging that will be held in the
morning.
Our
local custom is the most appropriate way of the feast day of St. John the
Baptist, the precursor who prepared people for the coming of Jesus Christ. St.
John baptized the people with water. To remind one of one's baptism, people in
the community use a tabo or water dipper, others have water guns to douse
everyone with water. By allowing oneself to get wet, devotees hope to receive
blessings and the community have bountiful harvest in their farming.
Celebrate
Sara’s culture at Masskara sa Sulay Basya led by the rhythmic beat of Samba.
Guests are guaranteed to see a dazzling array of beautiful samba dances, surely
making the festival a one- of- a-kind festival in Iloilo.
The
municipality of Sara is a 2nd-class municipality belonging to the 5th
Congressional District of the province of Iloilo. It is 97 kilometers northeast
from the city and is politically subdivided into 42 barangays. Its land area
measures 18, 300 hectares and is bounded on the north by the province of Capiz,
on the east by the towns of San Dionisio and Concepcion, on the south by Ajuy,
and on the west by Lemery. It annually celebrates its patronal Fiesta every
24th of June in honor of San Juan de Bautista. Market day is every Mondays and
Saturdays.
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