Friday, September 12, 2008 Seaside village marks little-known festival By Terry D.C. Betonio Contributor
WITH modern dance songs as background, hundreds of residents of Barangay Bonbon gracefully swayed their hips and raised their arms as they gathered around the statue of Sr. San Nicholas de Tolentino to give praise to their patron saint on his feast day Thursday.
Aside from the fluvial parade, the main highlight of the feast is the TambaNipa Festival, a street dancing and tableau contest that showcases the economic activity of the barangay, which is fishing (common catch is Tamban) and Nipa weaving.
Young and old alike danced and trailed the long line of devotees as residents carried the statue of Sr. San Nicholas and marched through the vicinity of Talisay Beach in Barangay Bonbon, where the festivity was held after a short fluvial parade dubbed "Sakay-Sakay" held earlier along the beach.
Some residents even touched the body of the statue and walked under the makeshift wooden cart where the statue was placed while in procession, hopefully to ask for miracles and religious intercession from the saint.
Hector Baal, a resident of the barangay who oversees the festivity, said the "Sakay-Sakay" and the "dancing sessions" after the fluvial parade is part of the centuries-old tradition of the residents in honor of Sr. San Nicholas, held every 11th of September.
The family of Baal is one of the few native residents of the barangay whose great grandparents spearheaded the start of the religious tradition.
Baal said some residents reported incidence of "miracles" and "religious intercessions" by Sr. San Nicholas.
"Few years ago, my cousin Evelyn wasn't able to join the traditional religious gathering here because she had a boil on her leg and she can't walk well. When the statue was brought back to the chapel after the activity, Evelyn walked under the cart where the statue was placed and immediately after, she felt relieved and can walk. Evelyn can't believed what happened to her," Baal said in the local dialect.
He said from then on, residents make it a habit to walk under the statue's cart or wipe their handkerchiefs on the statue and pray for the saint's intercession.
Baal emphasized, however, that miracles and the religious intercessions do occur because of the deep faith the residents have on Sr. San Nicholas.
Urbana Baal, Hector's aunt who is now 73 years old, said since the time she was born and can walk, she has been joining the yearly festivity -- a tradition that has been passed on from generations to generations and a tradition that would probably stay until the next generations.
Barangay captain Sonny Salcedo said Bonbon is probably the only barangay in Cagayan de Oro that is holding the yearly fluvial parade and gathering of devotees, which starts at 9:00 in the morning and lasts until 3:00 in the afternoon.
He said the residents even have their picnic at the beach as they join in the celebration.
Aside from the endless dancing and the procession, some residents also take part in swimming competitions and boat paddling in single or double events, with corresponding cash prizes.
The feast of Sr. San Nicholas, though it falls on the 10th of September, has been celebrated since the 1st day of the month and culminates with the fluvial parade on the 11th.
