Celebrating Tubungan’s Colorful and Vibrant Cultural Festival

Tubungan, Iloilo on its 250th Foundation Anniversary will celebrate the 17th Tubong-Tubong Festival, the town’s tradition that runs from April 23 till May 1, 2018. From its humble beginnings, the festival which is aimed at promoting the town, its local culture, attractions and its main produce, the coconut has become a family tradition.

Tubunganons gathers to celebrate and welcomes everyone to the celebration and rejoicing on this merry occasion. The quiet town transforms into a colourful and festive showground where in locals, tourist from the neighboring towns gather to see and experience its vibrant cultural festival, Tubong-Tubong, derived from a Hiligaynon word “tubong” or “to contribute or chip-in.”  The town was an arrabal of neighboring Guimbal. To be separated from Guimbal, residents from neighboring Leon, Igbaras and Tigbauan settled peacefully and permanently in the area leading to its independence in May 1, 1938.

The highlight of the event, the Tubong-Tubong Dance Drama Competition is usually participated in by students in colourful period garbs, dramatizing segments of the town’s important historic events while dancing as accompanied by drums or canned music.

With local artisans, food vendors, demonstrators and entertainers participating in this nine-day long annual tradition, there is always plenty to do, see, and explore. With this year’s theme, “Pag-usoy sa Banas kang Kahapon, Pamukaw sa Baratyagon bilang Tubunganon,” the festivity opens with a Civic Parade at 4 p.m., Opening Program at 5 p.m., Opening of Agri-Trade Fair and Food Kiosks at 6 p.m. and the street Dancing Competition at 7 p.m. on April 23 (Monday); April 24 (Tuesday) Sayaw 2018 at 8 a.m. and the Search for Miss Tubong-Tubong 2018 at 6 p.m.; April 25 (Wednesday) Laro ng Lahi and Parlor Games at 8 a.m. and Passion for Fashion at 6 p.m.

April 26 (Thursday) LIGA Activities at 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., and LIGA Night at 6 p.m.; April 27 (Friday) Slow Race Elimination for Motorcycle and Tricycle Show at 8 a.m., Advocacy on Safety Driving at 1 p.m. and Motorcylce and Tricycle Show Final Judging at 6 p.m.; April 28 (Saturday) opens with the Panay Association of Rides Enthusiasts (PARE) Gift Giving at 8 a.m. in Barangay Igtuble, Tubong-Tubong Motorcross Competition at 8 a.m. in Barangay San Jose, Pencak Silat Tournament at 8 a.m., 4th Tubong-Tubong Football Festival from 7 a.m. till 5 p.m., and Basketball Game at 7 p.m.

April 29 (Sunday) Diskubre Igtuble Mountain Bike Adventures at 6 a.m., Gab-I sang Pasidungog kag Pasalamat at 7 p.m.; April 30 (Monday) Sigabong sa Tubong-Tubong 2018 Battle of Class A Sound System from 8 a.m. till 3p.m. and TNHS Alumni Night at 7 p.m.; May 1 (Tuesday) Diana at 4:30 a.m., Thanksgiving Mass at 7 a.m., Tubong-Tubong Dance Drama Competition at 8 a.m., Night of Voices and Laughter at 7 p.m., and Awards Night and Fireworks Display at 9 p.m.

Tubungan is situated 41.1 kilometers or an hour drive southwest from Iloilo City. Made up of 48 barangays, the town 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.

Carabao-Carroza Festival: More than Just a Race

Pavia, Iloilo will showcase and preserve its local way of life between the people in the community and carabaos through the Carabao-Carroza Festival. Celebrated every April 25 till the 4th of May, the town known for championing its relationship with them through this annual festivity annually pays homage to their carabaos in the most delightful of ways.

With this year’s theme, “Journeying Towards Excellence,” the festivity will open on April 25 with daily Agri-Trade and Food Fair and nightly entertainment till the 4th of May.

Every 3rd of May, on its festival day, 18 beautifully-decorated carrozas with their muses depart from Barangay Ungka-I passing in front of the main streets leading to the town’s poblacion and arrive at the football grounds of Pavia National High School at around 8:30 a.m. Savoring a traditional atmosphere, Pavianhons watch with joy the star of parade, the carabaos, some, fitted with brightly colored cloths and lots of decorations.

The much-anticipated race follows after a short program declaring the opening of the celebration. Locals and guests and those from neighboring villages pour into the festival grounds from all four directions as the excitement heightens. They gather around the carabao racing track, hundreds of spectators stand and are packed there and are in high anticipation of the upcoming races.

Flagpoles are staked out to mark boundaries, their colourful flags fluttering against the vast blue sky. Then the carabao race begin, both races involve a special riding skill. Two major race types are observed annually: the flat racing, a race of carabaos with their owners; and the carroza-racing. Both races are of a 100-meter long run along the parallel grassy track of the field.

It was about 46 years ago that this event was first organized as a reward for the carabaos which had toiled so hard in rice planting and harvest. This came to form part of the festival celebrating the completion of rice planting or harvesting, which is a tiring task not only for man but also for carabaos. The carabaos are treasured to such an extent that the custom of people living together with them in the same area where the house is still remains.

The Carabao, known to many as the “Beast of Burden,” but to Filipinos as the “Farmer’s Bestfriend” is a living symbol of strength, power,   efficiency, perseverance and hardwork. 

For the people of Pavia, the carabao represents its history and strength. It is no wonder that when you speak to Pavianhons, they are proud of their heritage through the annual celebration of their Carabao-Carroza Festival.

A prosperous town of dynamic people, Pavia is 9.6 kilometers or a 30-minute drive north from Iloilo City.  The town is 2,703-hectare big and comprised of 18 barangays and is bordered by the municipalities of Oton, San Miguel, Sta. Barbara, Leganes and Iloilo City. To get to Pavia, one can take a jeepney in Jaro Plaza, Iloilo City.

Katagman: A Celebration of Oton’s Culture and Creativity

Oton, Iloilo, will celebrate its 446^th Foundation Day Anniversary alongside its annual Katagman Festival on April 30 – May 3, 2018. The festivity is all about Oton’s history. It is one of Iloilo’s successful community events and promotes the towns’ wonderful stories and places.

Celebrated at the heart of the charming old town, Katagman Festival began in 2004 and has grown each year. Every May Ogtonganons explore their history through series of special events highlighted by the Music, Dance and Theater Competition at 6 p.m. on May 3 (Thursday) with the Street Dancing Competition at 4 p.m. After 15 very successful years the event is firmly established as a major fixture on the local festival calendar attracting many.

This year’s theme, “Kasaysayan sang Mascara nga Bulawan Aton Balikan, Masanag nga Buasdamlag Aton Maaguman,” activities, exhibitions and programs unfolds throughout the 4-day celebration that cater to everybody with series of special events starting from April 30 (Monday) with the Opening of Agri-Fair, Garden Show and Plant Sale at 9 a.m. in front of Annex B Municipal Building, Mass at 2:30 p.m., Parade at 4 p.m., Opening Program at 6 p.m. at the Plaza and Hiyas Sang Katagman at 6:30 p.m. at the Plaza.

May 1 (Tuesday) Katagman Fun Run/ Walk at 5:30 a.m. at the Plaza, On-the-Spot-Painting Contest at 7:30 a.m. at the Heritage Lagoon, Bugal Sang Ogtonganon – Awarding of Outstanding Ogtonganons and Young Achievers, Clean and Green, Modelong Gulayan and Top/ Prompt Business Tax Payers at 6 p.m. at the Sheridan Boutique Resort. May 2 (Wednesday) Sinadya sa Baybay and Motorboat and Baroto Race at 7 a.m. Fishport, Laro ng Lahi at 8 a.m., Plaza and Zumbathon sa Katagman at 5 p.m., Plaza; May 3 (Thursday) 446^th Foundation Day Mass at 2 p.m., Street Dancing Competition at 4 p.m., Oton Plaza and Music, Dance and Theater Competition at 6 p.m., Oton Plaza.

Participated in by 37 barangays of the town and clustered into seven (7) tribes, the presentation showcases Oton’s rich history starting from its pre-colonial settlement up to the present. The icon of the celebration is the Chinese Golden Death Mask, now considered a National Treasure.

For the town of Oton, the major cultures that impacted their local culture heavily are the Chinese and Spanish. History played a critical role in the evolution of Oton’s cultural life. A vast amount of Chinese pottery has come to light from archaeological sites where wares were recovered from the burial sites in many areas of the town. This is the best evidence of the trade which flourished for centuries between China and Oton.

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Chinese merchants carried on a rich trade with the local community and distributed the imports from China such as silk cloth, gongs, porcelain, umbrellas, gold threads, etc. into the area. Filipinos on the other hand would trade honey, rattan, cotton, pearls, wood, gold, etc.  As some of these Chinese were engaged in various forms of retail trade, others worked as artisans, producing goods for the use of the Spanish in the community. These various activities were dominated and almost monopolized by the Chinese.

The Spanish had not come to the Oton to engage in the kind of trade and artisanry carried on by the Chinese. The Spanish were in the area as much for religious as for economic reasons. Conversion of the locals was a major objective of Spanish policy.

Katagman is not only a celebration of Oton’s culture and creativity, it is a celebration of art and design, fashion and food on the streets of Panay’s Oldest Pueblo. So, whether you are a long-time enthusiast or have never seen a historic festival in action before, you will find plenty to entertain you at Oton’s Katagman Festival.

The First Class town of Oton is approximately 10.2 kilometers or a 25-minute ride south from the city and is bordered in the east by the district of Arevalo in Iloilo City; west by the municipality of Tigbauan: north by San Miguel; and the southern portion by a stretch of shoreline of the Sulu Sea. It has a land area of 8, 456 hectares politically subdivided into 37 barangays.

For more information about any of the events above, please contact Cheche S. Demo-os – Municipal Tourism Officer at 09778500954.