Kadaugan sa Mactan (lapu-lapu City)

The festival of Kadaugan sa Mactan is known to be celebrated in Cebu, Philippines in the month of April as the defeat of Magellan by Lapu Lapu is re-enacted annually at the beach of Barangay Mactan where the event had actually taken place (Mactan Shrine). This is a major attraction for the tourists and the locals in the city and draws a lot of crowd.

The 3 ships of Magellan are represented by the bancas or canoes and they are made to lead a river procession up to the beach. This act is followed by the re-enactment of the planting of the Magellan's Cross leading to the final act of Lapu-Lapu's victory. Kadaugan sa Mactan literally implies about the 'Victory of Mactan'. It was also called Bahugbahug sa Mactan or 'Melee at Mactan' when it was initially staged in 1981. The exact time of the commencement of the festival mostly depends on the tidal conditions and otherwise it is known to begin at around 8 in the early morning hours. This festival is mostly celebrated on the 27th of April with much grandeur and pageantry. This festival grants the Cebuano people a good opportunity to re-visit the days of Mactan Battle between Magellan and Lapu-Lapu and also to celebrate their history and events.

Being in Cebu you shouldn’t miss out on a visit this grand celebration in order to get a clear idea about Cebuano history and culture. 

by. Meljorey lagarde 

KRANSA FESTIVAL 

(Danao City, Cebu)

“Tara na mag karansanata, hey!”

This is the common line among dancers during the Karansa Dance Festival which will happen in every 3^rd Sunday of September at Danao City, Cebu, a place famous for pottery and gun-making industry.

The said festival is in honor of the Danao's patron saint, Santo Tomas De Villanueva. According to the history, it was called Karansa because the people of Brgy. Suba, Danao City, will gather and celebrates for a successful day of work through performing a dance.

This is a proud of Danawanons which remains its cultures and heritage of Danao City.
The Colorful and wild costumes are worn by the contingents from elementary to high school level with their gigantic and awesome props. They will perform the four basic steps, the kikay, the karag, the kurug and the kurahay which show joy and happiness during the festival street dancing, and the showdown competition.

A lot of people would come and witness the magnificent, spectacular and breath-taking event as the dancers dance gracefully, express their loudest shout and wear those lovely and wonderful smiles.

by. jona mae Ursal

budbod kabog  Festival  

(Catmon, Cebu)

In the 10^th of February, Catmon celebrates a festival that showcase the whole process in making the delicious specialty which was the “Bodbod” and also in honor of the people in their patron San Guillermo de Aquitania. If we say festival, it means that celebrating some unique aspect of that community and its traditions, and street dancing is always a part of it. The street dancing competition is participated by the different barangays, and every barangays  has its dance movements, the movement of making the bodbod, with the costumes in bodbod concepts. By the way of presenting and  promoting this  delicacy  This festival is one of those festivals in the whole province of  Cebu that we Filipinos especially cebuanos that can be proud of.  

by : Dionelsa Cuadra

 Sarok Festival 

(Consolacion)

  

The Sarok Festival is celebrated on Consolacion's foundation day. Sarok is a hat made of bamboo strips and dried banana leaves. Sarok Festival a mardigras of colors and street dancing along the main road of Consolacion is celebrated every 14 February in commemoration of Consolacion founding anniversary，named as "Adlaw sa Consolacion" The main attraction of this festival is the colorful Sarok and its wide uses. The participants of the festival are the students from different schools (elementary, highschool, and college) in Consolacion. They wear attractive costumes that fit for the kind of presentation of their choice. The sarok used as the main props comes in various designs, which enhance one's sense of imagination.The mission of the event is to attract tourists that will encourage preservation of the culture and history of the municipality of  Consolacion.

From then on, the Sarok Festival has already become one of the most awaited celebration of the year for the people of  Consolacion. Moreover, the festival has been very successful every year and more people from the other parts of Cebu were encouraged to witness the very prestigious festival of Consolacion. Sarok Festival has become a way promoting the culture and the beautiful town of CONSOLACION.

      





 by. Mia Jessa Ceniza

Hinatdan festival

(Ginatilan, Cebu)

 

A Festival of History, Arts and Culture .. A Festival of Life ... a Festival of Thanksgiving, Hope and Oneness of Ginatilanons.

In the making of a cultural festival of Ginatilan at present, "Hinatdan" was rightfully chosen as the name of the festival because of its historical and religious value.

"Hinatdan" is the fitting name of the festival because it portrays a significant notion of the place itself. It inspires and encourages the town folks to work harder and do things for the best in life, so that the fruits of their labor and dedication can be sent to the community and for them to cherish and be proud of. "Hinatdan" is an act of good service to God and to the Community. It is a festival of history, a festival of arts and culture of Ginatilanon and a festival of life.

by.Wenelyn Torres 

Sinulog festival

(Cebu City) 

The Sinulog festival is one of the grandest, most distinguished and most colorful festival in the Philippines. The major festival is held each year on the third Sunday of January in Cebu city.  The sinulog festival features some the country’s most colorful displays of ceremony and pageantry participants clothe in bright-colored customes dance to the rhythm of drums and native gongs.

 there is also a sinulog sa kabataan, which is performed by the youths of cebu a week before the grand parade.recently , the culyural event has been commercialized as a tourist attraction and instead of traditional street-dancing from locals, sinulog also came to mean a contest highlighting groups from various parts of the country. 

The day before the parade, the fluvial procession , a water-parade , held at dawn from the mandaue city wharf to cebu city wharf with the santo nino carried on apump boat decorated with hundreds of flowers and candles. On the feast day at the basilica a pontifical mass is held given by the cardinal with the assistance of several bishops of cebu.

   By. Kimberly Sanchez

KABKABAN FESTIVAL

(Carcar City, Cebu)

Carcar City is a one of the provinces located in the “Queen City of the South” Cebu.

It is considered as heritage City of Cebu, Carcar contains various Spanish and American period structures. The Carcar plaza alone hosts several heritage structures, the Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria dominates the area. Within the complex various structures stand, including quaint houses and their distinctive architectural details.

Aside from its manmade architectural structures, Carcar City is also a proud manufacturer of the famous Carcar chicharon, lechon, ampao, bucarillo, gogorias and puso. With these, it stabilize the industry of the said city.

With the arising economic stability of the city. KABKABAN was first conceptualized, it was an yearly agro-industrial fair showcasing the products of Carcar City to be celebrated during its annual fiesta. The festival got its name from the old name of Carcar, which is “Kabkad” or “kabkaban” because of the abundance of study ferns known to old folks as “kabankaban”.

by: Alan Regis

Mantawi Festival 

(Mandaue City, Cebu)

The Mantawi Festival is the biggest event of the city of Mandaue. Held every last Sunday of August, the mantawi Festival is a festival of history, a Rediscovery of Mandaue’s rich cultural heritage.

The festival is a symbol of Mandaue city’s history. The highlight of the festival is a parade of street dancers and dioramas showcasing the history and culture of Mandaue accompanied by brass instruments, the festival also includes the parade of Higantes, the festival was opened for participation places outside Cebu.   The festival culminates the awarding of the winners of the street dance and float and followed by a grand fireworks.

As what I’ve observed in the Mantawi Festival it has the similarity in other
 festivals like sinulog.
 You can also have a great fun and enjoyable experience                  attending this kind of event.  

By: Debora  Augusto                              
                                   Haladaya festival 

(Daanbantayan,cebu)

The municipality of Daanbantayan is staging the HALADAYA FESTIVAL every 30th of August. This is the major highlight of the town's fiesta celebration, in honor of ST. ROSE OF LIMA, it's patron saint.

Haladaya means an offering to Datu Daya ("Halad" - to offer and, "Daya" - the legendary chieftain of Daanbantayan). The Haladaya Festival is a celebration of the victory over the oppressive Moro pirates. It is more than just a prayer and dance; it would give us an identity as Kandayan-ons - a people of grateful hearts for being so blessed with almost everything. It also tells the heroism of Datu Daya and showcase the glorious historical past of the town, through colorful street dancing followed with ritual showdown, depicting the Moro dance with the concepts of victory and thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest.

Hadalaya Festival stages spectacular performance of competing contingents from public elementary and secondary schools students in their colorful ethnic inspired costumes as they show the intricate steps of the dance as they move along, chanting on the street with the clicking, rolling and the thunderous beat of the drums.

By: Jonagail Samudal

 LAPU-LAPU FESTIVAL

(Lapu-Lapu City)

A parade of floats, street dancers and queenly beauties filled the main streets  of  Lapu-Lapu City for the city’s   Garbo sa Lapu-Lapu Festival.

Heavy traffic was experienced in roads  in the Poblacion and Hoops Dome in barangay Gun-ob where a competition  for the best performances  entertained people  on th eve of the annual fiesta.

At the Hoops Dome,  judges and city officials viewed   three dance contingents and 10 floats from an elevated stage.  Entries for the Pasahalad, best in street dancing, float, and festival queen are much-awaited events.

Floats of 10 barangays, which included Calawisan, Gun-ob and Punta Engaño, displayed local products. A giant crab dominated the float of   barangay Calawisan.

“This festival is one way of expressing our gratitude for all the blessings that the Birhen sa Regla(the patroness of Lapu-Lapu City,) has showered  us throughout the year,” said Lapu-Lapu Mayor Paz Radaza.

By:
RONAN C. LOZANO