Thursday, April 27, 2017

Tubong-Tubong: Celebrating Community and Identity



Tubungan, Iloilo will showcase its culture to visitors from around the province with the celebration of its annual Tubong-Tubong Festival, its premiere cultural event on April 28 – May 1, 2017. A trip to the town should definitely be part of your festival itinerary of Iloilo.


Tubong-Tubong is a joint community-led effort that provides series of special events at the town center. The origins of the festivity may be traced back 16 years ago where Tubong-Tubong reflected and focused its theme on how Tubungan got its name and how cooperation among its people and neighboring towns served as a catalyst for its independence as a municipality from Guimbal.


The perceived need for such celebration was also driven by the necessity to promote Tubungan and its attractions and as part of a broader effort to change perception that the town is unsafe for tourists.


The annual festival celebration offers Tubunganons  a chance to showcase their local culture through performing arts, music, cuisine, and exhibits from different barangays. This year, Tubong-Tubong will open on April 28 (Friday) with a Civic Parade at 7:30 a.m., Opening Program at 9 a.m., Indigenous Game at 4 p.m., Search for Miss Tubong-Tubong Festival 2017 at 7 a.m.; April 29 (Saturday) Sikad Kontra Droga “Tour de Primero: Tubong-Tubong Adventure at 6 a.m., Motorcross Competition at 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., Basic Orientation on Driving Protocol and Tour Guiding at 5 p.m., Broom…BRROOOOM…BRRROOOOOM (A Local Motorcycle and Tricycle Show for Safety Driving) at 6:30 p.m., Paindisanay: Battle of the Best Dance Crew 2017 at 8 p.m.; April 30 (Sunday) Diskubre Igtuble (Launching of Eco-Tourism Adventure Activities) at 8 a.m., TNHS Alumni Night at 7 p.m.;


The most-awaited day is May 1 (Monday) with the Thanksgiving Mass at 8 a.m., Sigabong sa Tubong-Tubong (Battle of Class A Sound Systems) at 9 a.m., Tubong-Tubong Dance Drama Competition at 3 p.m., Awards Night and Fireworks Display at 7 p.m.


Series of special events see the opportunity of bringing together the people and communities that participate in this annual festival reflect a shared common ethnicity, heritage, and identity. Although Tubong-Tubong Festival has expanded over the years and with new events coming in, its historic highlight, its preserved customs and traditions is showcased during their festival performances.


Tubong-Tubong was derived from a Hiligaynon word “tubong” that would mean “to contribute or chip-in.”  People from neighboring Leon, Igbaras and Tigbauan settled peacefully and permanently in the area. Their presence led to its independence from the town of Guimbal in May 1, 1938.


Situated 41.1 kilometers or an hour drive southwest from Iloilo City,  Tubungan is made up of 48 barangays and is bounded on the north by the municipality of Leon, on the south by the municipality of Guimbal, on the east by the municipality of Tigbauan and on the west by the municipality of Igbaras.


To get to Tubungan, visitors can take a jeepney at the Don Benito Q. Acap Sr. Southern Iloilo Perimeter Boundary in Barangay Mohon, Oton or when in the city, at the market situated at the back of Robinsons Place Iloilo. For more information, please contact Mrs. Marlyn Tagudar – Municipal Tourism Officer at 09152893395 or at 3960754.

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