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| photo by Joel Miles Molina |
Pavia, Iloilo, is bringing
you Iloilo’s biggest and scariest Halloween Festival---Tigkaralag or
Pangagaluwa or Soul-ing.
Uniquely where it
all began, the town started hosting the celebration 25 years ago to showcase
the creativity and talents of the different participating groups coming from
the town’s 18 barangays, as well as to prevent youngsters from getting into
trouble. And it has grown almost every year since.
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| photo by Joel Miles Molina |
There is a parade
with a lot screams that starts at 5:30 p.m. If you like a good scare there is
the spectacularly spooky Halloween costume and make-up competition. The
highlight of the festival is certainly the annual dance-drama competition,
pretty awesome for such a small town.
Costumed characters,
like the Headless Priest, zombies, werewolves and ghosts bring this
historically themed spot to life.
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| photo by Joel Miles Molina |
Although the fear
factor is always there in the minds of many especially kids because of the
obvious association of cemeteries with the dead, Ilonggos do not celebrate
Halloween as festive as other cities. There are no costumes, not so popular
trick or treat, no holiday mood. In fact, by the 31st of October, the city
starts to empty slowly, with fewer vehicles on the streets.
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| photo b Joel Miles Molina |
As early as the 29th
of October is the expected exodus of students and individuals from their usual
place of residence and work in the city to go back to their hometowns where
resting places of their dead loved ones are located. There, they visit their
cemeteries to clean up the tombs of their departed loved ones in preparation
for All Saints Day or Todos Los Santos every 1st of November. It is the day to
remembering the dead, the day seen as a chance for family reunions to
strengthen family ties. Families set aside food for their loved ones who have
already passed away.
In the city, with less
people and vehicles, the only crowded places are found in the vicinity of
cemeteries.
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| photo by Joel Miles Molina |
No matter, it is
quite evident that Tigkaralag of Pavia has become an anticipated yearly event
especially for the young. More than
spookiness and fright, Tigkaralag has become synonymous to fun, costumes, and
treats for the Ilonggos. Pavia is a mere 30 minute drive from downtown Iloilo.
The Agro-iIdustrial
town of Pavia is located 9.6 kilometers north of Iloilo City. The town is
politically subdivided into 18 barangays and is known to be the smallest in the
whole province in terms of land area. Pavia is bordered by the municipalities
of Oton, San Miguel, Sta. Barbara, Leganes and Iloilo City. For more
information, please contact, Mrs. Susan Jovero – Municipal Tourism Officer at
09173006041.
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