HAW-AS: Keeping Traditions Alive in Dumangas

Dumangas, Iloilo will celebrate its 10^th Haw-as Festival on October 26-31, 2018. Come experience the beauty of Dumangas and the warmth of its people during this festive occasion  observed annually to give thanks for the bountiful harvest from its fishponds, the town’s biggest produce – bangus or milkfish that we all delight to eat, and as a means to promote its biggest industry.

Celebrate Dumangas’ culture with community events starting October 26 (Friday) with Pagbagting Day that includes a Photo-Shoot Competition at 9 a.m., a Motorcade at 9:30 a.m., Street Dancing Competition at 3:00 p.m., Haw-as Festival Grand Opening at 5:00 p.m., Unveiling of Dumangas Gym at 6:00 p.m., Sugbahanay sa Plaza at 7:00 p.m., Launching of La Sirina at 8:00 p.m. and Awarding Ceremony of Street Dancing Competition at 9:00 p.m.; October 27 (Saturday) is Agri-Fisheries Expo Day with Farmer’s and Fisherfolks Forum and Product Display at 8:00 a.m., Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony of OTOP, Bangus Extravaganza and the 3^rd Sikpanay-Dumangas Actual Haw-as sa Punong at 3:00 p.m.

October 28 (Sunday) is Socio-Cultural Day with Liberation of Dumangas-the 118^th Cry for Freedom and Liberty at 9:00 a.m., Col. Quintin Salas Composo and Binalaybay at 10:00 a.m., Golez-Biron Autoshow at 7:00 p.m. and the Haw-as Festival Queen Pre-Pageant Night at 7:30 p.m.; October 29 (Monday) is Adlaw Sang Kabataan Kag Manununudlo with Youth Congress at 9:00 a.m. and Educator’s Day at 1:00p.m.; October 30 (Tuesday) is Haw-as Festival Queen Day with Job Fair at 9:00 a.m. and Haw-as Festival Queen Pageant Night at 7:00 p.m.; October 31 (Wednesday) is Col. Quintin Salas and Haw-as Guban Competition Day with Run for Col. Quintin Salas Marathon and the Commemoration Program for the 148^th Col. Quintin Salas Birth Anniversary at 8:00 a.m., Haw-as Festival Guban Competition at 2:00 p.m.

For one day a year, this historic town showcases its much-anticipated Guban Competition with an artful display of gleaming fishpond produce such as milkfish, crabs, tiger prawns spilling out of the nets from performers depicting fishpond farmers during harvest time.

Fishpond harvest is one of the most important economic activities in the lives of the people of Dumangas. Its people take pride in their bangus sector and its harvest activities which is the inspiration for the festival’s name.

Haw-as, a Hiligaynon term for harvesting or catching and gathering of all fully grown out matured bangus from the fishpond, and other catched fish from the nearby rivers and coastal sea waters.

Dumangas is a First-Class municipality located in the eastern portion of the province that borders the town of Barotac Nuevo in the north;  Pototan in the west;  Zarraga in the south, and;  the islands province of Guimaras and Negros Occidental in the east. The town is  politically subdivided into 45 barangays.

To get there, one can take a jeepney or van via Baldoza Terminal along Baldoza Street in Lapaz, Iloilo City.  For more information, please contact, Mr. Leonardo Quiatchon – Municipal Tourism Officer at telephone number (33) 3612400 or fax number (33) 3612884.

Celebrating Pagdihon

Dingle, Iloilo will celebrate its 10th Pagdihon Festival on October 25-31, 2018. The annual festival forms part of the core aspects of the town’s culture and is woven tightly into its overall cultural identity.

The theme of this year’s festival is “Pagdihon: A Celebration of Life, Culture and Environmental Conservation.“ With fun-filled activities daily during its week-long festivity, Pagdihon will open on October 25 (Thursday) with One Dance, One Music/ Float Parade and Competition/ Sponsored Mardi-Gras/ Opening Program/ Agri Fair and Live Band;  October 26 (Friday) is Senior Citizen’s Day/ Laro ng Lahi (Open Stage)/ Blood-Letting and Leadership Training/ Live Band; October 27 (Saturday) highlights the Street Dancing and Dance Drama Competition/ Environmental Day and Clean-Up Program/ Alcoholics Night;

October 28 (Sunday) Cry of Lincud/ Mountain Bike Competition/ Fireworks Competition/ Live Band. October 29 (Monday) Boy and Girl Scout Day; Farmer’s/ Coop Day and Teacher’s Night. October 30 (Tuesday) Mass Church Wedding and Miss Pagdihon; October 31 ( Wednesday) Trick or Treat/ Parade of Costumes/ Horror Night Competition/ Awarding/ DJ Foam Party with Back-to-Back Live Band.

For many people, the little they know of Dingle and its people comes from media coverage of Bulabog Puti-an. Dingle is so much more than that. Its beating heart is filled with the treasures emanating from a deep well of artistic creativity. The annual Pagdihon Festival shares some of this culture with the people of Iloilo.

The Festival is the cultural heritage of Dingle, the town that the Dingleanons call home. Memories of home shine through the cultural performances, the centerpiece of the annual celebration.

The much-anticipated dance-drama presentation highlights Gen. Adriano Hernandez, the central figure of the celebration, is a Visayan general, military strategist and patriot who secretly organized a rebel movement in Iloilo against the Spaniards and staged the first armed uprising in the Province in Barrio Lincud, Dingle. The event was known as the "Cry of Lincud" that happened in October 28, 1898.

For Dingleanons, celebrating Pagdihon is important because it acts as a way to preserve their local history. The festival is an excellent opportunity for intercultural exchange and understanding amongst Dingleanons, both kids and adults learn more about their culture and it functions to strengthen their sense of community.

The municipality of Dingle is 37 kilometers away from Iloilo City. It is bounded in the northeast by Anilao; northwest by San Enrique; southeast by Pototan and Barotac Nuevo; and southwest by Duenas. It is subdivided by 33 barangays distributed around its 7,750 hectare land area.

To get to the town, jeepneys and vans are available at the Northern Central Iloilo Transport Terminal, Inc. in Barangay Tagbak, Jaro, Iloilo City. For more information, please contact, Dane Dizon – Municipal Tourism Officer at 09983091262.