Saulog Tagbilaran: Of devotion and thanksgiving
THE energy of the locals was contagious as they waited with bated breath for the festival to start. Looking on to where the street dancers were to come in, they braved the scorching heat on a Sunday afternoon to witness the colorful dancers performing in honor of their patron saint, St. Joseph the Worker. To these people, this was their halad, or offering, to their beloved saint.
The Saulog Tagbilaran Festival is an annual cultural activity spearheaded by the City Government of Tagbilaran, with Mayor John Geesnell “Baba” Yap at the helm. Now on its third year, the thanksgiving festival was bigger and brighter than ever.
The Saulog Festival was inspired by the local word “saulog,” which means “celebration.” And indeed, it is a celebration of thanksgiving as each of the 15 barangays of Tagbilaran City unite and present a spectacular display of talent that is found in each perfected dance move, down to every intricate detail of their colorful and lively costumes.
Months of feverish preparations took place. The unity of the Tagbilaranons is apparent in every aspect of the event.
“The Saulog Festival has a barangay-based street dancing competition. It’s very local since we’ve seen that the children here are interested in learning the dance, which they prepare for about a month,” Mayor Baba said. “Aside from the main purpose of the festival, which is a thanksgiving to St. Joseph the Worker, we’re trying to promote Tagbilaran City. We want the people to know that there is a Tagbilaran City that is fast growing, developing and progressing.”
The street dancing is a must-see. Colorful costumes painted the city as the dancers moved in tune with the drums and bugle. One’s heartbeat slowly rises with every drum beat as one embraces the beautiful culture of the Tagbilaranons.
The kids danced their hearts out with wide smiles, despite the heaviness of their costumes and the sweltering heat. But the best part of the festival was experiencing it with the locals. Their anticipation and ostensible love for their patron saint, as well as their local culture, is beyond anything. They cheer for their barangays with so much excitement and unwavering support. The crowd’s screams of delight and fervor is so infectious that one wants to join in all the fun.
Back on their feet
The ritual dance is not just any kind of dance. Contingents have to incorporate four basic dance steps that were inspired by St. Joseph the Worker. These four basic carpentry steps are pangurus, pagsipilya ug pagdukduk, paghalad and pagsaulog. Most the contingents’ ritual dances depict their resiliency as a people. That even through seemingly insurmountable catastrophes that have hit the city and the entire province of Bohol, they still stand tall as one city and one people. Unity is the basic theme in each ritual dance.
One could easily see the hard work that went into the production of each contingent’s ritual dance. Each barangay found creative ways to wow the audience with gorgeous visual designs. From incorporating LED lights into their props to making gigantic wings or painting life-like landscapes on large boards, the Tagbilaranons’ workmanship and skill is something at par with none other than their patron saint’s.
The Saulog Tagbilaran Festival is a surefire way of keeping the locals, as well as tourists, excited for the month-long fiesta season in the province of Bohol. Yet amid all the preparations for the festival, it’s interesting to note how devout the Tagbilaranons are to their patron saint, doing everything and anything they can to offer their thanks and love for St. Joseph the Worker. After all, he is but the essence of the festival and the reason for this season of festivities.