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| photo by Ray Tabafunda |
Leganes, Iloilo, celebrates the festivity of St.
Vincent Ferrer, the town’s patron saint with the annual Saad Festival
celebrated this year on January 24 - 31, 2017. The celebration is one of the
most-anticipated folk religious festivals in Iloilo. Parades and parties erupt
in the area in his honour. It sees people near and far participating and
celebrating.
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| photo by Ray Tabafunda |
Saad or ‘Vow,’ is one of the major festivals in
Iloilo. It is a mixture of Catholic and ancient local influences. Various
religious ceremonies, enthusiasm paralleled with ample fun and celebration
marks the festivity adding colour and integrity to the municipality. The
festival reinforces the presence of God in the life of every Leganesnons, their
families and the community as a whole.
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| photo by Ray Tabafunda |
St. Vincent Ferrer is the most beloved religious
icon in Leganes. He is known as the Church’s greatest source of miracles and
one of the most influential politicians, theologians, intellectuals and
philosophers of his time. He is popularly known as the “Angel of Healing”
because of his gift to cure the sick. Believers had recourse to him in every
difficulty. He is also the patron saint of fishermen and builders.
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| photo by Ray Tabafunda |
The party environment raises everyone's spirits as
it is one occasion and opportunity to make new friendships and renew old ones. The Opening Salvo will be on scheduled
January 24 (Tuesday); Miss Saad Pageant on January 27
(Friday); Sinadsad Dance Parade on January 30 (Saturday); Saad Cultural Presentation on a
Sunday, January 31st.
The highlight of the festival is the cultural dance
presentation which imbues a unique vibrancy. The presentations are dance-dramas
likely to show suffering sin or shame other than worship. Folk dance steps are
incorporated into the regular worship steps expressing joy in the dance and
using a lot of additional arm movements. Traditionally, the arms are often
raised up toward the sky, or in front of the body as if reaching out to God.
The arms can also be held out to the sides to symbolize Christ, surrender to
God, or openness to healing and restoration.
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| photo by Ray Tabafunda |
The Palapak or the act of pressing the image of St.
Vincent Ferrer on the head of a devotee is a special feature of the dance
choreography. Palapak is a popular practice amongst many faithful who suffer
from various sickness and even those with physical disabilities hoping that a
miracle might happen through their patron’s intercession. It has been said that
various miraculous healing have been attributed by the faithful to their vow of
devotion to St. Vincent Ferrer.
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| photo by Ray Tabafunda |
Much of the music has a definite local flavour
using a medley of old Hiligaynon favorites. Every performances ends with shouts
of "San Vicente Ferrer, Igampo Mo Kami!," with a dance for joy to
praise their patron saint for his deliverance.
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| photo by Ray Tabafunda |
Now on its 13th year, Saad as a festival was
previously celebrated every April in commemoration of his death anniversary. It
was in 2015 that the month of January his birth month became the permanent
town’s festival date.
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| photo by Ray Tabafunda |
The Fourth Class municipality of Leganes is about
11 kilometers away or a 30-minute drive from Iloilo City. It is one of the 19
coastal towns of the province and the only coastal municipality that shares a
common border with the city. The town is adjacent to Pavia in the southeast; in
the west by Sta. Barbara; and in the north by Zarraga. To get there, one can
take a jeepney at Jaro Plaza, Iloilo City. For more information, please call
the Municipal Tourism Officer- Mr. Jerry Anas at (033) 3296622 or at
09127721033.
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