Monday, October 16, 2006
A lavish barangay festival
By Id Acaylar
IT IS unlikely to find a festival in a remote area that can parallel or even surpass many urban festivals in Mindanao. Such rare discovery is Halad Festival, at out-of-the-way Barangay Tagakpan in Tugbok district. This barangay can be reached via Angalan, traversing a stretch of bumpy dirt road.
As the word suggests, Halad Festival is a thanksgiving offering of the bountiful produce of Tagakpan, Subasta, Sirib and Manuel Guianga, the four barangays under the jurisdiction of the Parish of San Francisco de Asis.
It was the parish priest, Fr. Leo Gonzales, OSJ who organized the festival as a way of celebrating the patronal fiesta of St. Francis of Asisi every October 4. Since the parish was established by the Oblates of St. Joseph on April 30, 2000, the festival is just as young, barely seven years old.
I feel very fortunate and privileged to be invited to the celebration for the second time. It was as festive, more peopled and exciting as last year's. It was Kadayawan-inspired. Parading on the sole street of Tagakpan were 24 fully dressed floats, generously bedecked with foliage, flowers, fruits and vegetables found abundant in the locality.
That was just being truthful to the intentions of the festival and the spirit of the fiesta celebration.
St. Francis of Asisi through his Canticles, particularly of "Creation" and of "Brother Sun, Sister Moon" which was made into a movie was recognized as a lover and protector of Mother Earth and its bounty of fruits, flowers and herbs. But St. Francis is better known as patron saint for animals, a reason some floats had their effigies.
However, I wondered why there was a muse in every float. Was it a must? I was told that the youthful ladies with their consorts, atop the decorated platforms, represented the 26 Ginagmayng Kristohanong Katilingban (GKK) that sponsored and made the floats out of love and devotion to their patron saint and parish.
Naturally, I thought, for how could they be motivated by cash prizes that ranged from P1000 for fifth prize to a maximum of P5000 for the first prize?
Nevertheless, it added wonders to the floats of varied shapes and shades that amazed and amused the judges composed of James Zimmerman, the Czar of float parades; Tina Dotimas-Huab, president of Kadayawan Foundation; Marlene Librado, the executive director of Davao Beautiful Foundation; and the blates in the persons of Fr. Provincial Superior Noel Magtaas and Fr. General Councellor Gabby Camus.
I suppose they were guided by both aesthetic and spiritual considerations for they chose my choice, the Pineapple Float of GKK San Francisco -- Centro as grand winner in this year's competition.
To add gaiety to the parade, the floats were interspersed with drum and bugle bands led by prancing and swaying young majorettes and Sayowgudda sa Dalan, the street dancing competition.
I was told Sayowgudda is the Bagobo for Indak-Indak. It was participated by the elementary and high schools in the four barangays under the parish, like GKKs. I presume they did not compete for the cash prizes.
The first prize winners, Tagakpan Elementary School for the children category and Sirib National High School for the adult category, each received only a measly sum of P10,000, to the astonishment of the judges who are all accomplished dancers and choreographers. They are Boots Dumlao, Edwin Refuerzo, Caycay Lamanilao, Edmund Superada and Gilbert Abenoja.
Despite the meager budget, sans commercial and government sponsors, the Halad Festival was a tremendous success. A perfect example of effective group dynamics and teamwork. All the parishioners from Tagakpan, Sirib, Subasta and Manuel Guianga participated, cooperated and contributed time, labor, money and whatever.
Such wonderful collaboration reflects a purposeful, benevolent and moral leadership of the Oblates of St. Joseph. I take off my wide brim hat to Fr. Leo and Fr. Bong. I shall return to Tagakpan. But for the fruits. Hahaha!
Editor's note: Joie de vivre, this encapsulates Sir Id: his passion for living, his flair for fashion and words. His weekly column, which is yet to be named (we are still cracking our heads for an appropriate title that befits his most colorful character), will come out every Monday thereafter. Welcome aboard!
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (October 16, 2006 issue)
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