TOLEDO City's Hinulawan Festival returned in grandeur after three years of hiatus on June 12, 2023, with a wide range of festivities.
The Hinulawan Festival is a religious celebration that occurs every year on the 12th of June as a thanksgiving to the city's patron saint, John of Sahagun.
Hinulawan is a coined term from the Cebuano words "hinaguan," meaning "hard-earned," and "bulawan," meaning "gold." This also refers to the city's Hinulawan River where people used to pan for gold.
The city is the mining capital of Cebu with the largest mining area of 1,674 hectares.
This year the 38 barangays from the city were divided into 10 clusters to form contingents participating in the festival competitions from a Parade of Floats, Pillar Competition, and Street Dancing Competition, to a Ritual Showdown.
The festival also wrapped up the Suroy Suroy Midwest Tour 2023, which was held in seven towns and the city from June 10 to 12. At least 400 tourists joined the grand showdown at the Toledo City Sports Complex.
Cebu's lone west coast city showcased its vibrant culture during the festival with grand costumes and props, which Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said "rivaled that of Pasigarbo sa Sugbo," the Capitol's yearly festival competition.
Garcia was so elated with the Hinulawan Festival that she promised to provide Toledo City a P3 million incentive and a P500,000 subsidy for each of the 10 clusters for a total of P8 million for the city.
Toledo City Mayor Marjorie Perales expressed gratitude for the promised aid of the governor since she said that the city spent P5 million for the festival and more on the Suroy Suroy Sugbo tour.
"We also have to allocate part of our funds from the Hinulawan Festival. The additional P1 million will be used to cover the expenses for the Suroy Suroy Sugbo since we still have a significant amount to pay," said Perales in Cebuano. (RJM)