If yes, I’m glad to have someone who has an experience with Festivals. True, it is very happy to join such, however there are some who has not been in a certain occasion. For those who have not been in a festival, let me share some of my experiences in the festivals of our town:

It is still fresh in my memory, the very moments while still in a certain festival in our town. Hanging “banderitas”, colorful parades, lively music from the bands, varied booths, sumptuous foods served in every home are everywhere! Each time, I think of it I feel a certain delight, now let me tell you my different experiences in the different festivities in our town…

Patronal Town Fiesta (October 7^th)

This religious festivity is being celebrated as the feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, the town’s patron saint. Several activities are being undertaken in her honor. “Baratillos and perias”, games and variety shows add the colorful event. Procession of the Virgin Mary highlights the affair.

As I remember, the Holy Rosary was given to St. Dominic. She gave it to us for us to use it as a praying vessel that’ll save the people then from the war. Miraculously, The war ended and they were saved. There are so many wonders about the Holy Rosary, nevertheless what’s important is, we know that She loves us all.

A tribute for the Virgin Mary

Every year I get to enjoy different cultural presentation from different schools in our town. We always enjoy to pray the rosary with our family. Afterwards,  my aunt would always serve to us different cuisines she know. For me, this festival symbolizes the love of the Virgin Mary for us.

Pista ng Bayan

The Pista ng Bayan is being celebrated as the founding anniversary of Lopez.

Lopezeno's pride

Several activities are being undertaken during the Pista ng Bayan some of the activities are: cultural presentation done by different civic organization; search for Bb. Lopez; the agro-industrial fair and karera ng pinakamakulay ng bangka from Barangay Hondagua to Pulong Niogan added the attraction on the Pista ng Bayan.

This year we’ve celebrated our 154th founding anniversary. However, I was not able to witness this year’s feast, I was in Laguna for some studying reasons. Nevertheless, I was able to hear stories of enthusiasm, fun, and joy from my friends and relatives.

According to my aunt, many celebrities joined the affair. She cooked her specialties for the event. It’s a a bas thing I was not there, but I’m happy my family enjoyed the event and our town still survives and how I wish, we could celebrate more years of the founding anniversary of our town.

Sulong Lopez!

(continuation, see the next post)

In this festival, we celebrate the feast of St. Isidore the Labourer(locally known as San Isidro). I am always excited to commemorate this particular festival, because every part of the San Isidro Street is filled with arcs that each has “pabitin” on it (hanging fruits, vegetables, and junkfoods). This is done to represent the act of “sharing” that is said to be San Isidro’s trade. People get the “pabitin” after the procession for San Isidro passes that certain spot. Usually, this is done in the afternoon.

True, it is very exciting and enjoyable, however it is not always good to be at the pabitin area. Instead of getting the pabitin, you may get bruises. I remember when I was 9, I cried because I was stepped upon by the excited crowd (plus I get to have some black and blue spots on my arms)ready for the pabitin. Nevertheless, it is fun to just watch the people getting the pabitin, and attending masses for San Isidro with your loving family and friends.

San Roque Festival (August 16^th)

This is a festival in honor of St. Roch (locally known as San Roque). To celebrate his feast, a parade of dogs is displayed touring around around our town. The dogs are said to be a companion of St. Roch.

During this feast, I am able to see diferent breeds of dog in their cutest costumes. Together with their owner they showcase not only fashion sense but also remind us of San Roque.

Hunyuhan sa Barangay (9 days of June)

The month of June marks festivities of extravagant celebration of the feast of Saint John the Baptist. This event can be witnessed in Barangay Bebito, Lalaguna and several barangays.

Mayflower Festival and Santa Cruzan

The “Mayflower” activities consist of one month novena to the Virgin Mary and at the end of the month focus on the grandeur Santa Cruzan. Santa Cruzan is one of the oldest religious traditions of the story of Queen Helena and Prince Constantino looking for the cross of Jesus Christ.

From the Santa Cruzan one can see the young ladies of our town dressed to represent characters in the “bible”. I can reminisce from it my admiration to the Virgin Mary and Her love to her Son.

Mayuhan sa Barangay.

One of the fabulous and exorbitant festivities is the “Mayuhan sa Barangay”. Every barrio folks made a nine-day novena to their patron saint and at the end, is a merry-making “sayawan” with “pinuso” or “arangya” made of harvested fruits and vegetables.

Hopefully our local government will preserve these festivities of us.

These are just a few of the celebrations in our town…I hope you can also enjoy the festivities in our town.

Sources:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08189a.htm

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13100c.htm

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08486b.htm

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Cynthia/festivals/flores_de_mayo_at_santacruzan.htm

These are but some of the questions nagging my mind since I was here. June 6, afternoon, Mr. Ver Pacete discussed something not only about Silay City but also the entire Negros Occidental.

History Of Silay City

Etymology

• carobcob (Spn. scratch)
• Kansilay (18^th century)

Early Inhabitants

• Negritoes/ Ati (1565) – lived in mountain areas
• Indonesians (from Indonesia) – lived in villages
• Malays (from Borneo, led by Datu Puti)

Spanish Era

• declared as a town (late 18^th century)
• declared as the center of the parish (late 18^th century)
• sugarcane industry was introduced by Yves Leopold Germain y Gaston (1896)
• Papa Dionisio Seguela ( a babaylan) led a revolution against landlords and Spaniards
• Cinco de Noviembre revolution started, Filipinos led by the Ilustrados win a bloodless revolution (1898)

American Era

• war broke out between Americans and Filipinos (1899, Feb.)
• Negros welcomed the Americans (1899, July)
• Melecio Severino was elected First civil governor (1899, Oct.)

Japanese Era

• Japanese Imperial Army landed in Negros (1942, May)
• American planes bombed Negros (1944, Sept.)
• Allied forces landed in Negros (1945, March)
• Japanese Imperial Army retreated to Patag in Silay (1945, March)
• Lt. Gen. Takaishi Kono officially surrendered (1945, Aug.)

City Formation

• Silay turned into city by R.A. 1621

Arts and Culture of Silay City

Silaynons have their own share in the field of arts and culture. According to Mr. Pacete, Silaynons are/has:

• calm and have a positive oulook in life

• very hardworking
• believers of supernatural creatures
• Catholics
• active in parties and other social gatherings
• born artists in every aspect
• a lifestyle closely related with their occupation (sugarcane planting)
• rich literature of the Hiligaynon language

Little by little, I was educated by these facts. Bit by bit I can conclude that…the more I look back; the more I can understand what today is all about, the more I take care of the future.

Source:

http://vimeo.com/7489589

http://www.silaycity.gov.ph/

A tower of passion and life-suport...

I know what’s on your mind right now. Let me guess. You are thinking of desserts and sweet cuisine, aren’t you? Well, this might disappoint you, but you’ve got a wrong guess. Ideally, this blog post is intended for something not just about any sugar cane spread mostly all over the so-called “ Sugar Capital of the Philippines”. Nevertheless it is about something deeper and much more meaningful. For me,it is greater than any sack of sugar sold for a million dollars and more important than any city in this world. What I am trying to pull out is their sanctuaries of art, religion, and history.

You may think that I am a bit childish with what I am going to say, but honestly, when I heard that there will be a heritage tour across famous sites in Negros Occidental, immediately my heart leaped for joy. As I get older, I began to be fond of explorations particularly those of about history and each unique culture. I am always fascinated by the bizarre bravery of our forefathers who are responsible of what we are enjoying right now and the diverse characteristics of a specific group of people.

Early in the morning, 4th of June, I ate breakfast after which I took pictures of my friends before the bus went on . By the way, the tour was made possible through the efforts of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology and the Carlos Hilado Memorial State College in our Camp Blog. As minutes passed by, Tito Ver Pacete – our tour guide, introduced himself. I got high expectations of the tour after listening to his informative introductory talk. We’ve had our destinations of diverse famous sites in Negros Occidental…

Home of the Negrenses

Balay Negrense Museum

This is our first stop, the museum in Silay City, along the Cinco de Noviembre Street that has stood for almost two centuries, built for cradling the clan of Don Victor Leopald Gaston y Fernandez. This precious structure is passed on from generation to generation. It is,according to the sign in front of the museum is not only the residence of the “Gastons” but also a home for the Negrenses as well.

Personally, the museum left an amazing impression on me because of its significant idea welcoming everyone whoever you are (Not to the Negrenses only). This was a worth remembering site for its beauty and historical sense.

Ramon Hofileña Ancestral Home

Haven of Arts and History...

Tito Mon’s house, situated in Silay City, for me is not only a 76 year-old structure built to be used as a house ; but also, a house of art forms and the like. He has the possession of priceless art forms and gems of knowledge about the history as well. It is the first ancestral house opened to the public.

From here, I have learned a lot particularly in the field of culture, the arts and the Philippine history. He has a good story-telling skills that provides us to know things that are really new to us. His collection are so priceless that no piece of diamond can replace them.

St. Joseph the Worker Church

This church in Victorias City is extremely unique for its varied interpretations of the Christian belief. Artistically-made for the beautification and certain distinctiveness of the church. Highlights Filipino-style sculptures and paintings, obviously seen in the “Stations of the Church” and statues of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph the Worker. Also, here is the famous painting of the “Angry Christ” behind the altar and “ The last Supper” at the back.

Filipino-style Virgin Mary

Though it is a really new style of church to me, I can still feel the presence of God coming out of the art forms found inside the church. I was amazed by the idea of the Filipino-style sculptures and painting because of its strong connection to our culture.

Chapel of Cartwheels

This church in Victorias City is very indigenous and creative. Cleverly put up by the people who resides nearby led by Msgr. Gaston through the use of the materials found in the place. Some significant symbolisms can be identified here, an example is the non-parallel continuation of the roof at the upper part inside the church, which personifies the imperfection of the world where we’re living.

Like the St. Joseph the Worker Church, I too, was astonished by this bizarre work of art, also, I felt God’s presence from there. I was amazed more by the cultural ideas assembled into it.

The Ruins

This almost century-old mansion located in Victorias City was built out of love, hard work , and eggs…(used just to create a marble-like surface of the mansion). This was built in honor of Don Ramon Lacson’s first wife, Maria Braga (can be seen from the inverted “M”’s

sculpted in every dimension of the mansion). It is built through the skills of the people nearby. It is said to be magical at 5:30 p.m., (because of its shiny surface, due to the eggs); a typical mansion with a fountain and wide lawn. Sadly, it has to be burned down so that, it won’t be a headquarters to the Japanese during the war. Preserved through time, its beauty was maintained and recently was opened to the public.

I enjoyed my stay in the wide lawn here, where we took pictures and enjoyed the sweet blueberries at the side. Also, I was fascinated by the interesting facts about the house and its historical significance .

Mansion of Love and Eggs

Ah…these are only but a few of the destinations we’ve gone to. All of these are beautiful , and going to be more, if we will just preserve them …

A fascinating cube is never complete with just a facade. Never also, a book can be credible enough with just a glimpse on its cover. Moreover, a country’s development can’t be what it is by today by just a singular aspect. Anything won’t be of it is with just one thing; however, each piece is valuable and essential for the completion of another. Every component is important like our culture and history , both are only but a piece but of them lingers in the development of our country’s society. In other words, we have to preserve our culture and history, for we may not know the true benefits of those remarkable things for our future.