Calinog, Iloilo will
celebrate its Hirinugyaw – Suguidanonay Festival, an ever-popular fixture on
the local festival circuit in the province from January 26 till February 4,
2017. It is an event that attracts visitors from all over the province who are
looking for an authentic festival experience.
With the theme, “Hugyaw
Calinog: Pagtu-o kay Senor Sto. Nino Pagahimpiton, Turismo Pasanyugon agud
Banwa Mainuswagon,” the festival will highlight the vibrant colour, lively
music and the town’s strong cultural ties with its Panay Bukidnon or Sulodnon indigenous
group of almost 13 barangays.
The town plays a
very important role in the culture of the Ilonggos, and while most of the
population have adopted the traditions that were brought to the area by the
Spanish conquistadors, there is also an indigenous culture to be found in its
upland barangays. One of the interesting aspects is that in the case is the
annual Hirinugyaw – Suguidanonay Festival celebrated annually with a
combination of Catholic Christian and indigenous religious beliefs.
Inspired from what
is known to be one of the longest epic in the world, Hinilawod translated in
English as “Tales from the Mouth of the Halawod River,” is an folk epic poem
written by the early inhabitants from the Panay Bukidnon tribe. This
8,340-verse epic is transferred orally from one generation to the next through
chanting, locally known as Suguidanon. And when performed in its original form would
take about three days, making it a literary masterpiece.
The epic poem is
also very good source of information about the Sulodnons’ culture, religion and
rituals and is depicted annually in chapters assigned during the Suguidanon
presentation of the annual festival. This year, tribes will perform Balankon, a
two-headed monster, the guardian of the ridge where his beloved, Lubay-Lubyok
Hanginon si Mahuyokhuyokan lives and is narrated in the epic under the
Adventures of Dumalapdap.
The second part of
the tribal dance presentation is the Hirinugyaw where, just like the city’s
Dinagyang celebration performance, it
anchors on the religious aspect, the Holy Child Jesus is honoured in thunderous
drumbeats and colourful costumes. Dancers move out in fast-paced, rhythmic steps,
with voluble shouts of joy. Hirinugyaw is
from a Hiligaynon word hugyaw that means
to cheer.
The festival tribal
dance competition takes place in the weekend after the city’s Dinagyang event,
February 4 (Sunday) at 8 a.m. is considered without a doubt, the largest, most
enjoyable and one of the more famous and authentic of all held in in the
province.
The grand displays
performed by each tribe in traditional dress have proved to be very popular
among visitors, while there is also plenty of chance to share in local
traditional food. Guests who will visit the scenic town of Calinog during the
Hirinugyaw-Suguidanonay Festival would be privileged, and to share the
celebration makes for a very special reason to be there.
Calinog is a
First-Class municipality situated in the central portion of the province,
bounded in the north by the municipality of Tapaz, Capiz; northeast by the
municipality of Bingawan, Iloilo; northeast by the municipality of San Remegio,
Antique; south by the town of Lambunao, Iloilo; southeast by the municipality
of Dueńas, Iloilo and; southwest by the town of Valderama, Antique. The town is
59.3 kilometers away or an hour and 20-minute drive from Iloilo City. Politically
subdivided into 59 barangays, it has a land area of 3,280 hectares.
To get to the town,
one can take a non-air-conditioned bus at the terminal beside Coca-Cola
Bottlers Philippines plant in Ungka, Pavia. For more information, please
contact Chester Larroder – Municipal Tourism Officer at 09159781887.
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