Passi City Reinforces its Identity Through Pintados de Pasi

Passi City, Iloilo will celebrate and recognize its tattooed culture with music, dance, and performances that express and impress. Alongside Passi’s 21st Cityhood Anniversary, Pintados de Pasi will turn into an enormous festival, reverberating to the drumbeats of hundreds of tattooed dancing bodies on its tribal dance competition on March 23, 2019 at 8 a.m.

The festivity showcases the ancient practice of the art of body painting and tattooing. It is also in memory of their ancestors who were called "pintados," men with tattoos from the ankles up to their upper torso and neck. Not everyone could have a tattoo; they were exclusive only to the greatest and bravest of warriors. Tattoos were symbols of status and rank. Natives had to win battles and fight in wars in order to earn their tattoos. The braver ones even extended their tattoo marks up to their cheeks, around their eyes and forehead. This art of body painting had even amazed the early Spanish colonizers.

The centerpiece of the festival features the rich history and culture of the Passinhons expressed through dances with different themes depicting the pre-Spanish lifestyle – wars, epics, and folk religions – of the Pintados. The participating tribes are adorned with decorative body paint imitating the ancient tradition of tattooing. They parade the streets, showcasing their extravagant costumes and smiling faces..

Celebrated this year starting March 9 - 24, 2019, with the festival theme:”Passinhon, Padayon nga Maghiriugyon sa Mainuswagon nga Palaabuton,” Pintados de Pasi Festival is one of the more established and popular in the province. More than just a celebration, it is important community event where ancient stories and traditions are handed down to youngsters, as well as a time to come together and have fun.

The event is free, and everyone is welcome to join in the festivities, with activities for children and adults alike. March 9 (Saturday) Opening of Food Festival/ Passi People’s Trade Fair and Garden Show at 6 p.m., Pintados Color Fest at 7 p.m.; March 10 - 13 (Sunday – Wednesday) Nightly Entertainment; March 14 (Thursday) 21st Cityhood Anniversary Celebration with a Mass at 6:30 a.m., Opening Salvo – Street Dancing at 8 a.m., Creative Minds – CMIAP All In at 6 p.m.; March 15 (Friday) Zumbatados at 5 p.m., Ang Pagbukas: Pintados de Pasi Festival 2019 at 5 p.m., Montessorian’s Night at 6 p.m.; March 16 (Saturday) 3rd Pintados de Pasi Taekwondo Championship 2019 at 6 a.m., Mobile Legend Tournament at 8 a.m., Big Brother Party Central and St. Alphonsus School of Passi City Entertainment Night at 6 p.m.;March 17 (Sunday) Invitational Motocross at 6 a.m., Nightly Entertainment at 7 p.m.; March 18 (Monday) Nightly Entertainment at 7 p.m.

March 19 (Tuesday) Opening Program of Parade/ Pasundayag and Awarding Program at 7 a.m., Binibining PIntados 2019 Talent’s Competition at 7 p.m.; March 20 (Wednesday) Golden Hearts Award 2019 Handuraw 2019 at 7 p.m.; March 21 (Thursday) Laro Ng Lahi at 7 a.m., Pinta Lawas – Ginoong PIntados at 9 a.m., PIntados Night at 7 p.m.; March 22 (Friday) Karosa Parada/ Karabaw Pagwapa-Pagwapo at 7 a.m., Binibining Pintados 2019 Grand Coronation Night at 7 p.m.; March 23 (Saturday) Mass for Tribe Competition at 6:30 a.m., Pintados Tribe Competition at 8 a.m., Closing/ Awarding Program  at 4 p.m., Fireworks Display at 6:30 p.m. and Night with the Stars at 7 p.m.; March 24 (Sunday) Thanksgiving Mass at 6:30 a.m.

Pintados de Pasi Festival had always been an important community event for connecting people to place and reinforcing identity. The festival helps Passi City grow culturally and revitalize its cultural and historical expression.

The City of Passi is situated 50 kilometers away or an hour and twenty-minute drive from Iloilo City. It is located along the Central portion of the province using the Iloilo-Capiz National Highway.  It is politically subdivided into 51 barangays with a land area of 25,068 hectares. It shares boundaries with San Enrique on the north; on the south is Dumarao, Capiz; Calinog on the east; and on the west is Lemery.

To get to Passi City, one can take the bus at the new Ceres Terminal in Barangay Camalig, Jaro, Iloilo City. For more information about the celebration, please contact Mrs. Gina Palmares – City Tourism Officer at (033) 3115087/ 3115947.

Embracing Heritage and Tradition Through Pagdaug – Saludan Festival

Tigbauan, Iloilo is inviting visitors to journey through its rich cultural traditions and historical diversity through the Pagdaug – Saludan Festival to be held on March 10-18, 2019. Witness how Tigbauanons really come together in a spirit of participation to hold this annual festivity.

Enjoy a fun-filled week starting March 10 (Sunday) 3x3 Basketball Games at 9 a.m.; March 11(Monday) Opening Salvo, Parade Carroza Float Contest at 3 p.m., Opening of Trade Fair and Talento Lokal Art Exhibit at 3 p.m.; March 12 (Tuesday) Pagdaug – Saludan Quizz Bee at 9 a.m., Little Miss Tigbauan at 7 p.m.; March 13 (Wednesday) Kinilaw Festival – Kinilaw Competition at 9 a.m.; March 14 (Thursday) SCFAI 26^th Foundation Day at 8 a.m., On-The-Spot Art Exhibit at 3 p.m., Banda Musiko Saludan Rockfest at 7 p.m.; March 15 (Friday) Drum Corps Competition 2019 at 2 p.m.; Singing Idol 2019 and Tigbauan Tourism Promotional Video Contest at 6 p.m.; March 16 (Saturday) Search for Pagdaug Festival King and Queen 2019 at 7 p.m.; March 17 (Sunday) Pagdaug – Saludan Tribal Dance Drama Competition 2019 at 2:30 p.m., Awarding Ceremonies at 6 p.m., Estrawnghero Liberation Party at 8 p.m.; March 18 (Monday) Victory Run at 5 a.m., Mass at 5:30 a.m., Parade and Floral Offering at 7 a.m., Program for Victory and Day at 8 p.m.; Victory Day Brunch at 10 a,m,

The heart of the festival program is the Tribal Dance-Drama Competition on March 17, 2019 at 2:30 p.m. where contesting tribes will showcase a two-part presentation. The opening scene, the Pagdaug, commemorates the historic liberation of Panay from invading Japanese troops during World War II. Scenes show harassment of locals by Japanese Imperial Armies and communities sabotaged and destroyed. It was in March 18, 1945 when some 23, 000 strong guerilla forces under Col. Macario Peralta landed on the shores of Barangay Parara of the town.

The Saludan portion maybe a familiar sight, but little is known about it. Coined from the Hiligaynon word salud or the traditional way of gathering or accumulating a thing for its interest or value, the different contesting tribes will showcase through dance interpretations of Pagpanalud in land during harvest, on the sea at early morning or when collecting sap from a coconut tree to prepare coconut wine.

Pagpanalud sa Uma or the winnowing of rice during harvest season has its roots in historical and traditional practices. Pagpanalud starts after threshing, involving the use of bare feet. d spread over a mat or canvass and workers trample with their own feet. After the treading, the straw is separated from the grains and cleaning of the grain is done by winnowing. Winnowing removes lighter materials such as unfilled grains, chaff, weed seeds and straw remains. The traditional method starts by place the grain on a winnowing bamboo tray; then place a net, mat or canvas on the ground; tilt the bamboo tray against the wind; pour grains slowly at a height of 1m; separate only light from heavy grains; recover only the heavier grains; some blow or use a fan if there is not enough wind. The traditional method, though laborious and tiring in nature, it is still a preferred method amongst rice farmers themselves. During the cultural presentations, the use of traditional bamboo trays or the naturally wind-blown method is shown along with the remaining traditional processes of winnowing is incorporated into the dance-drama.

Pagpanalud sa Lawod or the traditional collecting the captured milkfish fry along brackish coastal waters near the mouth of rivers and streams where stands of mangroves are present can be done daily or every two to three days. It is usually done early in the morning or sometimes during low tides. Collect the trapped fish by scooping them with a fry sweeper or a fan-like gear framed by whole hard bamboos and a detachable fine meshed nylon netting. The frame measures 2-4 m at the sides and 2-3 m at the opening. A bagnet is strung within the narrow end of the frame. Sinamay is usually sewn over the nylon net at the end portion of bagnet to prevent sticking of bangus fry in the nylon netting. The wings of the bottom net are provided with stone or lead metal sinkers. The sweeper is pushed along waist-deep to chest-deep waters for 28 hours depending on fry availability. Daily catch can reach from 200-2,000 fry. The collected bangus fry are placed in well-ventilated containers, preferably wooden vats or big earthen jars filled with clean brackish water. Keep them in cool areas. Overexposure to sunlight is avoided. Performers interpret this traditional method as male dancers with make-shift fry sweepers incorporate the movement of fry sweeping into traditional dance steps.

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Tigbauan boasts a bounty of coconut plantations. The coconut spirit is easy to find in this peaceful community. Tuba or coconut wine is known to be the sweetest in the whole province. The process of Pagpanalud sg Tuba starts when the sap has been collected using a bamboo vessel. The sap is the nectar that comes out when you cut an unopened coconut flower. It is an almost colorless or milky white liquid consumed right after it is collected from the tree because it can sour quickly. Some allow it to undergo fermentation and distillation to form a harder drink. Interpretations of a mananguete or a coconut climber extracting the sap from a coconut tree or men drinking coconut wine from a bamboo vessel is shown in the dance presentation.

After enjoying the festival, be sure to take a tour around Tigbauan so you can continue to learn about its culture and history.

Tigbauan is a 30 minutes or 22.5 kilometers land trip south of Iloilo City. The town is comprised of 52 barangays over a land area of 6,062 hectares. It is bordered in the northwest by Leon; the northeast by San Miguel; east by Oton; west by Guimbal and the Iloilo Strait in the south.

To get to the town, one can ride Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miagao or San Joaquin jeepneys 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 Mr. Ronnel Conadera at 09301446888.

Showing Eggplant Pride for the 3rd Talong Festival

Barangay Oyungan, Miagao, Iloilo will celebrate the town's greatest vegetable festival; visitors will enjoy. It is a three full days of a uniquely original Ilonggo experience that celebrates the joy of eggplant, the food it flavors, and the music and art that it inspires on March 19-21, 2019.

With a spirit of hospitality and inclusiveness that is intrinsic to this little barangay, the quiet community of Oyungan awakens with the gathering of eggplant lovers, foodies and gardeners from throughout Miagao. Series of events are in store for the people of Oyungan on its 3rd Talong Festival celebration this year. March 19 (Tuesday) Mass in honor of the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker at 7 a.m., Caravan, Opening Program. A symposium follows in the afternoon and the SK, Farmers and Oyungan OFWs Night will be at 6 p.m. Committee in-charge for the opening day are the SK officials, Ubos-Tacas Irrigators Association and Oyungan OFWs.

March 20 (Wednesday) Boat Racing spearheaded by the Fisherfolk Association and Cavalcade of Dances in the morning sponsored by Oyungan Elementary School and Oyungan Day Care Center, Seniors Night 2019 sponsored by the Oyungan Senior Citizens Association in the evening; March 21 (Thursday) Cooking Contest for Women and Family in the morning, Boodle Fight at lunchtime, Games in the afternoon and the Search for Lin-ay Kang Tarong 2019 in the evening.

There is something very special about Talong Festival, and the barangay of Oyungan with its natural beauty and rich farming history, provides the perfect backdrop for the celebration. The barangay cultivates some of the best quality eggplant in Iloilo, its good temperate climate, good soils, clean air and water provides the perfect conditions for the cultivation of delicious, healthy eggplant and for numerous passionate professional and amateur eggplant growers to thrive.

The barangay hall is spruced and adorned, a nearly giant eggplant is erected and the grounds prepared for three days of great celebration. Certainly at the festival, homage is paid to the eggplant, celebrated for its undeniable health and economic benefit to the barangay. And above all else its contribution to culinary history both past and present.

Local government officials along with Barangay officials headed by Barangay Captain Romy Gaduyon enter into the spirit of the festival with enthusiastic presentations and experts in the field of eggplant growing give informative talks to those who aspire to better results in their crops.

Eggplants belong to the nightshade family of plants and are used in many different local dishes. Although often considered a vegetable, they are technically a fruit, as they grow from a flowering plant and contain seeds. Most common are eggplants with a deep purple skin but, they can be red, green or even black.

In addition to bringing a unique texture and mild flavor to our recipes, eggplant brings a host of potential health benefits: (a) Eggplants contain a good amount of vitamins, minerals and fiber in few calories; (b) Eggplants boast a high number of antioxidants that help protect the body from damage caused by harmful substances known as free radicals; (c) studies suggest that eggplants may help reduce the risk of heart disease; (d) adding eggplants to your diet may help keep your blood sugar in check, and; (e) eggplants are high in fiber and low in calories, making them an excellent addition to any weight loss regimen.

The annual Talong Festival organization is a community, not-for-profit, volunteer organization. The core purpose is to benefit the whole community focusing to act as an annual community event to bring the community together and to promote Miagao.

Barangay Oyungan is situated six kilometers away from the poblacion on the way to the next municipality. To get there, one can take a Miagao or San Joaquin 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 Hon. Romy Gaduyon – Barangay Captain at 09302316094.