REPRESENTATIVES from the cities and towns in Cebu will meet for the first time in the Heritage City of the South to showcase the offerings of their localities through colorful performances in the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo.
There will be 50 delegations that will represent their homegrown festivals and compete in the cultural event dubbed as the “Festival of Festivals of Cebu” in Carcar City in southern Cebu.
For this year, the independent cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu will also join the Pasigarbo but only as guest delegates.
Here are the delegates that will perform in the Street Dancing and Grand Showdown competitions on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, in the order of their performance:
• Contingent No. 1 Bolho Festival of Municipality of Boljoon
“Bolho” means water sprouts. In Boljoon, this is considered an abundant gift of nature which relates to the abundance of the town’s rich cultural heritage and beautiful destinations.
• Contingent No. 2 Budbod Kabog Festival of Municipality of Catmon
The Budbod Kabog is Catmon’s most famous delicacy, made from a kind of millet called “kabog” that thrives in the mountains of Catmon. The Budbod Kabog Festival is celebrated during the town’s fiesta every Feb. 10 in honor of San Guillermo de Aquitania.
• Contingent No. 3 Kinsan Festival of Municipality of Aloguinsan
Aloguinsan took its name from “ulo sa kinsan” or head of the kinsan. Kinsan is a type of fish abundant in Aloguinsan waters. The Kinsan Festival is an ode to the town’s fishermen who benefit from the abundance of kinsan.
• Contingent No. 4 Panagsogod Festival of Municipality of Sogod
The Panagsogod Festival captures the essence of beginnings in all things. “Sogod” in Cebuano means start or beginning. Two popular legends tell of the origin of the town’s name: It was in this town where the first parish was established, starting the wave of Christianity in northern Cebu. It is also here where the black sand of the south stops and where the white sand of the north begins.
• Contingent No. 5 Hinulawan Festival of City of Toledo
Hinulawan Festival is a fusion of cultural dances depicting the colorful past and present of Toledo City starting from the pintados, pre-Spanish, rural, and neo-ethnic to the modern Toledo eras. Toledo City used to be named Hinulawan for its rich gold, copper and other mineral resources. Hinulawan is a contraction of the Cebuano words “Hinaguang Bulawan” or hard-earned gold.
• Contingent No. 6 Dagayday Festival of Municipality of Samboan
The Dagayday Festival is a celebration that emanates from the belief that water is the source of life and man’s role in the conservation of this precious resource. The fluidity of the kinetic energy flowing from the myriad of waterfalls of Samboan has brought a plethora of benefits to its people and its entire ecosystem from ridge to reef.
• Contingent No. 7 Kuyayang Festival of City of Bogo
Kuyayang is a traditional courtship dance endemic to Bogo City. The Kuyayang tells the tale of the early life of Bogohanons. Leisure gatherings in small groups of farmers, fishermen and traders after a day’s work often ended up in a happy refrain of the Kuyayang in the early years of Bogo.
• Contingent No. 8 Sanggi Festival of Municipality of Tabogon
Sanggi Festival is intended to showcase the socio-cultural and religious aspects of the lives of the Taboganons. Sanggi Festival contains activities related to farming, which are “pamugas” or sowing, “sanggi” or harvesting, and “pasalamat” or thanksgiving. Sanggi begins with sweat but ends with tears of joy and gratitude.
• Contingent No. 9 Bahandi Festival of Municipality of Alcantara
Alcantara’s abundant marine resources and fertile lands are said to be the wealth or the “bahandi” of the people. The Bahandi Festival is a celebration of good life, good harvest, merrymaking and thanksgiving.
• Contingent No. 10 Kabkaban Festival of City of Carcar
Kabkab is an endemic fern found in the City of Carcar. Depicting the richness and great passion in music, arts and culture, the leaf’s proliferation represents the Carcaranon’s love of music and the arts as an offering to the Venerable Msgr. Teofilo Camomot and St. Catherine of Alexandria.
• Contingent No. 11 Toslob Festival of Municipality of Oslob
In celebration of the town’s annual fiesta, the Toslob Festival is a form of merrymaking and thanksgiving for the blessings received throughout the year from the town’s patroness, the Immaculate Conception. Toslob means to “soak,” which refers to how the town of Oslob got its name.
• Contingent No. 12 Katunggan Festival of Municipality of Tudela
Tudela has introduced a new festival to represent its town. The Katunggan Festival celebrates Tudela’s katunggan or mangroves that protect the town from natural calamities and provide livelihood to the townsfolk due to the abundance of shellfish and other sea creatures lurking within its mangrove forests.
• Contingent No. 13 Banig Festival of Municipality of Badian
Banig weaving is a precise and time-honored technique in Badian. Each banig is a work of art, with patterns and designs meticulously crafted by the skillful hands of the weavers. The weaving technique necessitates patience, precision and an intimate knowledge of the natural fibers used.
• Contingent No. 14 Humba Festival of Municipality of Ronda
Humba or braised pork belly is a Filipino recipe and a famous delicacy in Ronda. Humba de Ronda is made simply by adding soy sauce, sugar and garlic to pork, cooking it until the pork becomes so tender that it melts in your mouth.
• Contingent No. 15 Kagasangan Festival of Municipality of Moalboal
Moalboal, with its underwater paradise due to the beautiful, colorful interlacing of seawater animals and corals locally termed “kagasangan,” captivates and entices divers around the globe. Moalboal is indeed a haven for divers.
• Contingent No. 16 Panumod Festival of Municipality of Barili
Barili is also known for its Mantalongon livestock market, the largest of its kind in the Visayas region and one of Barili’s highest income earners. It was in the mid-1920s when it became the center of the large “Thursday market day.” It is primarily an agricultural town with corn, rice, coconut, fish and mangoes as its prime produce, giving birth to its festival, the Panumod Festival, in honor of its patron St. Anna.
• Contingent No. 17 La Torta Festival of Municipality of Argao
The La Torta Festival celebrates Argao’s most esteemed and cherished delicacy, the torta, a distinctive symbol of the town’s rich cultural heritage and remarkable Spanish influence. It manifests the Argawanon hospitality and generosity as the torta is offered to guests and members of the family — all these in veneration of San Miguel Archangel.
• Contingent No. 18 Soli-soli Festival of Municipality of San Francisco
The Soli-soli Festival is celebrated because of the soli-soli, a type of grass that grows abundantly beside San Francisco’s Lake Danao. This grass can be used to make a variety of products such as bags, banig, hats and other weaved products which serves as the primary livelihood of the people of San Francisco.
• Contingent No. 19 Panagbagat Festival of Municipality of Poro
The Panagbagat is a festival of union and unification. It commemorates the purposeful meeting and peaceful agreement of the warring tribes of Tag-anito from the west and the Maktang tribe from the east under the wise counsel of panganuron. Today, the Panagbagat Festival is a creative and festive event celebrating the Porohanon’s keen understanding of the importance of unity, oneness and togetherness.
• Contingent No. 20 Sarok Festival of Municipality Of Consolacion
Celebrated on Consolacion’s founding anniversary, the Sarok Festival features the sarok, a conical hat made of bamboo strips and dried banana leaves. Considered a “panalipod sa uwan ug init” (shield from the rain and heat) and “kaabag sa panginabuhi” (helper in livelihood), the sarok is a representation of Consolacionanons’ resiliency, passion and resourcefulness.
• Contingent No. 21 Pamugsay Festival of Municipality of Pilar
“Pamugsay” is taken from the word “bugsay,” a wooden paddle used to row a boat or banca, which is also used by fishermen for fishing. The Pamugsay Festival gives credit to Pilar’s ancestors and the present-day Pilaranons, for whom fishing is a primary source of livelihood, since Pilar town on Ponson Island is surrounded by the sea.
• Contingent No. 22 Isda Festival of Municipality Of Madridejos
The Isda Festival celebrates the abundance and diversity of marine life that has provided livelihood for the locals and made Madridejos known as the “Little Alaska of the Philippines.” Isda Festival pays homage to Madridejos patron saint Immaculate Concepcion.
• Contingent No. 23 Lapayahan Festival of Municipality of San Remigio
Derived from the Cebuano-Visayan word “lapyahan,” which literally means shoreline, the general theme of the vibrant festival revolves around a razzmatazz of culture, history and the sea.
• Contingent No. 24 Haladaya Festival of Municipality of Daanbantayan
“Haladaya” comes from two words, “halad” meaning offer or offering and “daya” which refers to the name of Datu Daya, believed to be the ruler of the first Malayan settlers of the place. Haladaya Festival basically means an offering to Datu Daya.
• Contingent No. 25 Utanon Festival of Municipality of Dalaguete
The Utanon Festival is a festival of music and dance featuring high-value crops and vegetables, highlighting their contribution to the local economy, role in cultural diversity and significance as industry representative of Dalaguetnons as a people.
• Contingent No. 26 Panuhog Festival of Municipality of Santa Fe
“Panuhug” is a Santafehanon term associated with the art of stringing shell beads together and shell crafting. Panuhug became a major source of living for Santafehanons. Some proceeds derived from it helped to fund educational pursuits of the locals, thereby making them successful members of society.
• Contingent No. 27 Tostado Festival of Municipality of Santander
The Tostado Festival dance is characterized by its basic steps in making tostado cookies, such as “batil” for mixing, “ligis” for kneading, hulma for cutting and horno for baking celebrated every third Saturday of April as a fiesta highlight on ante-vesperas, in honor of Santander’s patron saint, St. Gabriel the Archangel.
• Contingent No. 28 Dinagat Festival of Municipality of Cordova
The Dinagat Festival is an annual festivity during Cordova’s fiesta celebration in honor of the town’s patron saint, Señor San Roque. “Dinagat” is a Visayan term from the root word “dagat,” which means “sea.” It depicts the fishing tradition and the Cordovanhon’s way of life.
• Contingent No. 29 Hinatdan Festival of Municipality of Ginatilan
The term Ginatilan is associated with the word “hinatdan” derived from the Cebuano word “hatod” which defines bringing progress, giving care for nature, land and the seas and above all, the birth place and hometown of the second Filipino saint, San Pedro Calungsod.
• Contingent No. 30 Sugat Kabanhawan Festival of Municipality of Minglanilla
A festival that shows great religious devotion to the Savior, the Lord Jesus, this is the Easter feast of the resurrection. Minglanillahanons and devotees from all corners of Cebu congregate before the dawn of Easter Sunday.
• Contingent No. 31 Sinulog sa Carmen of Municipality of Carmen
Legends passed down through generations have spun tales of the conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi landing on the shores of Barangay Luyang, where he gifted an image of Señor Sto. Niño to the people of Luyang. The people’s devotion to the Sto. Niño grew as the centuries passed after they witnessed miracles that spared their settlement from the harsh forces of nature and from invaders.
• Contingent No. 32 Katubhan Festival of Municipality of Medellin
Medellin is an agricultural municipality with sugarcane or “tubo” as the main crop. Sugarcane farming is one of the main sources of livelihood of the local folks. With this, the organizers had more than enough reason to transform the Medellin Sinulog Festival into the Medellin Katubhan Festival.
• Contingent No. 33 Lingaw Sadya Festival of Municipality of Balamban
Lingaw Sadya come from the words “lingaw” meaning enjoy and “sadya” meaning lively. The festival depicts the character and personality of the people of Balamban. They always look at the bright side of things. They are fond of enjoyment and happiness and always find a reason to rejoice.
• Contingent No. 34 Kawayan Festival of Municipality of Alegria
The Kawayan Festival revolves around the significance of bamboo as the main source of livelihood of the locals. Through vibrant performances, colorful parades and bamboo-themed displays, the festival showcases the town’s strong connection to this versatile material. The rhythmic chant “Que Alegre, Alegria!” echoes throughout the festivities, symbolizing the town’s exuberance and positivity.
• Contingent No. 35 Dagitab Festival of City of Naga
The Dagitab Festival covers six aspects: light, progress, industry, tourism, economic development and employment. Dagitab is a Cebuano term which means light or electricity. The Dagitab dance involves body movements that depict the sparkle and continued illumination of light in vibrant colors and sizes.
• Contingent No. 36 Sikoy-Sikoy Festival of Municipality of San Fernando
Sikoy-sikoy is a colloquial term for “panikoy,” a fishing method practiced by Sanfernandohanon fishermen by throwing nets even in rough and sturdy waves. Through the years, the term sikoy-sikoy has been adapted by the locals to mean the group of fish caught through this fishing practice.
• Contingent No. 37 Ani-anihan Festival of Municipality of Tabuelan
Ani-anihan Festival, derived from the word “ani” which means harvest, is Tabuelan’s artistic demonstration of immense joy and enthusiasm in gratitude to God, through the intercession of patron saint John the Baptist, for the town and its people’s sustainable bountiful agri-crop production.
• Contingent No. 38 Queseo Festival of Municipality of Compostela
The Queseo Festival showcases the local cheese or “queseo” produced from carabao’s milk, cooked naturally to produce a soft white cheese that goes well with biscuits and bread. This age-old tradition and product of mountain farms has always been the pride of Compostela.
• Contingent No. 39 Bisnok Festival of Municipality of Dumanjug
Bisayang manok, which is what native chicken is called in Cebu, is the famous delicacy that the southwestern town of Dumanjug is known for. Bisayang manok is directly descended from the red junglefowl called “manok ihalas” in Cebuano.
• Contingent No. 40 Palawod Festival of Municipality of Bantayan
“Palawod” means to go out to the far reaches of the ocean to harvest its bounty. It is an invitation to faith as expressed through talents and skills, prayers, songs, dreams and ambitions.
• Contingent No. 41 Lalin Festival of Municipality of Asturias
The Cebuano word “lalin” refers to a settlement event in which people immigrated from other regions. People from the neighboring islands of Negros and Bohol were considered the first settlers of Asturias, originally called “naghalin” during the Spanish era.
• Contingent No. 42 Tuba Festival of Municipality of Borbon
One of Borbon’s main livelihoods is the production of “tuba” or coconut wine, a sweet, fresh or mildly fermented sap taken from tapping the young expanded flowers of the coconut. It is sold directly to the market. This very delicious wine is offered to guests during special occasions.
• Contingent No. 43 Panagtagbo Festival of City of Mandaue
The Panagtagbo Festival is an adaptation of the traslacion or the transfer of the image of the Holy Child from the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño to St. Joseph Church in Mandaue City. “Panagtagbo” is a Cebuano term for meeting or gathering of the Holy Family which is celebrated every third Friday of January in line with the celebration of the Fiesta Señor.
• Contingent No. 44 Tubod Festival of Municipality of Tuburan
“Tuburan” comes from the Cebuano word “tubod,” meaning spring. Due to its abundance of springs, Tuburan celebrates the Tubod Festival every 13th of June in honor of the town’s patron, St. Anthony de Padua.
• Contingent No. 45 Rosquillos Festival of Municipality of Liloan
The Rosquillos Festival showcases the delicious pastry referred to as rosquillos. A favorite snack in Liloan, it is a cookie with a hole in the middle similar to a donut. The festival allows the municipality to promote its famous tourist spots.
• Contingent No. 46 Buyoc Festival of Municipality of Malabuyoc
Buyoc Festival features a dance depicting the celebration of harvest through a traditional method of cooking called “buyoc” where the freshest corn grains are poured on boiling water inside a clay pot called “colon” until the mixture becomes dried or “mala” in Cebuano and ready to serve.
• Contingent No. 47 Bonga Festival of Sibonga
A joyful celebration of thankfulness for the town’s abundant natural and food resources, the Bonga Festival is held every year on Oct. 12. “Bonga” is a transcription of the English word for fruit or, for a more general definition, harvest.
• Contingent No. 48 Siloy Festival of Municipality of Alcoy
The Siloy Festival emphasizes the message of environmental protection to create awareness of the surviving population of the endangered black shama or siloy, Cebu’s endemic bird that prevails in Alcoy’s forests.
• Contingent No. 49 Pamuhuan Festival of Pinamungajan
It is a celebration of the vast resources that Pinamungajan Municipality has access to due to its fertile land and fertile sea. This is depicted through, among other things, the annual colorful street dance.
• Contingent No. 50 Halad Inasal Festival of City of Talisay
The City of Talisay is considered the Lechon Capital of Cebu and arguably has one of the best lechons in the Philippines. Lechon is also commonly known in Cebuano as Inasal. The Halad Inasal Festival is celebrated during the feast of Talisay’s patron saint, Sta. Teresa de Avila.
Danao City is the only local government unit in Cebu that is not participating in this year’s Pasigarbo.
The winner last year, which is the delegation of the host city of this year — The Kabkaban Festival — achieved a historic back-to-back championship win.
Who are you supporting this year?