Sunday, April 11, 2010

Guimaras Manggahan Festival Showcases Local Celebrations


GUIMARAS, April 6 (PNA) – The provincial government of Guimaras showcases the various municipal and barangay celebrations during its Manggahan Festival that kicked off April 5.

The island-province boasts of at least 21 annual local celebrations ranging from municipal level fair of ‘Asinan Festival’ to the more prominent ‘Ang Pagtaltal Sa Balaan Bukid.’

Guimaras, aside from its main mango produce, also celebrates 10 barangay-level festivals. These are the Banigan Festival, Bayuhan, Kadagatan, Karosahan, Layagan, Rosas Sa Baybayon, Sarangola Festival, Sibiran Festival, Pangasi Festival, and Niyogyogan Festival.

Banigan Festival focuses on the use of ‘banig’ or dried pandan leaves as mats and various handicrafts. It is celebrated every April 15 at Barangay Sapal, in the municipality of San Lorenzo while Layagan is slated every May 1. In this event, Guimarasnons boast of their sailing prowess at Brgy. Hoskyn of Jordan, facing the Iloilo Strait.

Also featured as part of the Manggahan Festival are the series of annual festivals such as Asinan, Balsahan, Bulantihan, Sadsaran, and Palayag.

Asinan Festival focuses on the use of salt or ‘asin’ while the Balsahan Festival is all about the use of ‘balsa’ or local canoe and sailboat as tools for business and cultural heritage.

Other annual celebrations of Guimaras include the Harvest Festival, Iwag Sang Paskua every December, Kasad-yahan Sa Kabukiran, and Paskua Sa Barangay.

The Manggahan Festival is Guimaras’ annual province wide event that showcases its various products, tourism destinations, beaches, as well as the festivals in the barangay and municipal level.

The Guimaras Tourism Office invites the public to join these town’s festivities and may visit the Department of Tourism for more information on these events. /MP

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