FESTIVALS OF THE
NORTH: THE REINVENTION OF MODERN SOCIETY, CULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AND
TOWNSPEOPLE EMPOWERMENT
This article had been written because I was
inspired after reading a dissertation entitled
‘’PANGASINAN FESTIVALS: INDICATORS OF PEOPLE’S CULTURE, ARTS AND EMPOWERMENT’’, painstakingly researched
and written by Dr. Cheryl L. Calimlim, a brilliant Social Science instructor at
Pangasinan State University-Bayambang Campus.
Feasts and festivals have already been our
‘’showcase windows’’of hallmark events, local talents, cultural heritage,
revitalization of our different languages, townspeople’s native products, and
charting our solidarity and collective accountability. These Philippine traditions were imbued and
embedded in our lives for years that does not only cater merriment but also
reinvention of our modern society, cultural transformation and townspeople
empowerment. It echoes as an intangible celebration of our race and ‘’most
potent symbol of national identity.’’
According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, feast
is an elaborate and usually abundant meal often accompanied by a ceremony or
entertainment.
‘’Towns and city fiestas are being celebrated
to promote the cultural background, products, performing arts and the people’s
talents. Festivals are highlighted by street dancing rather than religious
processions.’’ ( PANGASINAN, PINABLIN DALIN, History, Culture and Development,
423-424).
The National Commission for Culture and the
Arts ( NCCA) Vision: The culture and arts community envisions the Filipino
culture as the Wellspring of national and global well-being [Ang kalinangang
Filipino ay bukal ng kagalingang pambansa at pandaigdig]. It has a mandate to
develop and promote the Filipino culture and arts and preserve Filipino cultural heritage.’’
According to Sections 8 and 12 of RA No. 7356, the NCCA is created and mandated
to formulate and implement policies and plans in accordance with the principles
stated in Title I of RA No. 7356:
To formulate policies for development of
culture and the arts;
To implement these policies in coordination
with affiliated cultural agencies;
To coordinate implementation of programs of
these affiliated agencies;
To administer the National Endowment Fund for
Culture and the Arts (NEFCA);
To encourage artistic creation within a
climate of artistic freedom;
To develop and promote the Filipino national
culture and arts; and,
To preserve Filipino cultural
heritage.(e-source:
http://112.199.66.15/about-ncca/about-ncca/about-ncca-history-mandate.php)
(photo
credit: Bryann R. Gabis)
Pangasinan history book entitled ‘’PANGASINAN
Pinablin Dalin’’ ( Pangasinan, Our beloved Province, p. 423-424), have listed
19 contemporary FESTIVALS OF THE NORTH.
I admire how are these festivals bring honor, treasure of great
magnitude, values of cooperation, peace and prosperity. I have chosen Best 10
Festivals that I have experienced and am proud of, these are:
PISTAY DAYAT – ‘’PISTA’Y DAYAT FESTIVAL (SEA
FESTIVAL)
It is a thanksgiving festival observed every
April in Lingayen, Pangasinan. It
celebrates the bountiful harvest and abundant fishing from the sea. The events
feature mass offering on beautiful beaches and fluvial parade.
At least a hundred boats participating in a fluvial parade commence the
celebration. The festival also has an environmental preservation-related event,
Konsyerto sa Gulpo, which allows young bands to further environmental awareness
through their music. Other events include: the Grand Orchestra Showdown; the
Pansasayawan, Panturugtugan dancesport fest; a solo vocal competition; the
Zarzuela Tan Turbaan; the Panangidayaw Trade, Tourism, Food, and Garden Fairs;
the Ating Yaman photo contest and artscape; the Tianggehan sa Pista’y Dayat;
the Limgas na Dayat beauty contest; amateur boxing bouts; the Magpalipad Tayo
kite-flying competition; the Ipahayag sa Layag boat painting competition; the
Palaro sa Lahi concert and variety show; and the Buhay sa Buhangin
sand-sculpting competition.’’
(Source
:http://www.asensopangasinan.com/pistay-dayat-festival)
DAGUPAN CITY BANGUS FESTIVAL- ( MILKFISH
FESTIVAL)
‘’The Bangus Festival is one of the country’s
biggest and most colorful celebrations of local industry and culture. As
Dagupan City is primarily known for its tasty bangus products, the annual
affair has consistently drawn people from all over the Philippines to savor the
native delicacy and to enjoy the many activities lined up for the whole
festivity.’’
(Source
: http://bangusfestival.ph/)
SAN CARLOS CITY MANGO-BAMBOO FESTIVAL-
A festival promoting San Carlos City as major
trading center of bamboo based products/furniture and best producer of
“carabao” mangoes and other mango variety in the country. San Carlos City is
popular in bamboo industry, the city has its own bamboo market where produce
from bamboo like nipa huts, baskets, lamp shades, furniture, cabinets, among
others are on display and traded for three days, starting from Thursday to
Saturday. Traders from other provinces come here to buy the produce and sell
these to outside provinces.
(Source:http://www.asensopangasinan.com/mango-and-bamboo-festival-of-san-carlos-city/,
and photo credit: Bryann R. Gabis )
URDANETA CITY DUMAYO FESTIVAL-
Urdaneta City, Pangasinan celebrates Dumayo
Festival annually to give thanks for the blessings that the city has received
throughout the years. Other activities that gave meaning to the celebration
were: Basbas ng Pag-iisang Dibdib (free mass wedding), bloodletting activity,
tree planting for environment preservation, jobs fair and fun run for a cause. Some
of the highlight of this event are the grand parade where carabaos adorned with
various ornaments were featured. And the street dancers from the city and
street dancers (guests) from other municipality.
(
source: asensopangasinan.com)
BALUNGAO GOAT FESTIVAL-
The highlight of this festival is youth from
different villages of Balungao, Pangasinan participate in a street dancing
competition along the town’s main road in celebration of Balungao’s Goat
Festival in honor of the town’s patron St. Joseph the Carpenter fiesta. ( Source:
http://www.mb.com.ph/goat-festival/)
BAYAMBANG MALANGSI FISHTIVAL-
Part of the Quadricentennial celebration, On
April 04, 2014 at 8pm, Bayambang was proclaimed as the new holder of the
Guiness World Record for Longest Barbeque, mounting 8, 000 grills and 50, 000
kilograms of fish spanning over eight kilometres. Programs, events and
influences that shaped Bayambang before and after its founding as a
municipality 400 years ago were also featured such as unveiling of the new
municipal seal and quadricentennial seal of Bayambang(formerly Malungey) which
is now considered as one of the first class towns of the North, street dancing
competition, Brain and Beauty Pageant, Little Mr. and Ms. Bayambang, 101 ways
to cook ‘’Malangsi’’ ( freshwater fish ), and celebration of the feast of the
patron saint, St. Vincent Ferrer.
(Reference:
Bayambang Souvenir Book 2014, photo credit: Bryann R. Gabis)
BINMALEY SIGAY FESTIVAL-
Binmaley ‘’Fish Harvest. It is a way of celebrating the town’s rich aquaculture
industry which serves as the main source of living of residents here. The fest
promotes the town in the tourism map of the Philippines as the ‘’Seafood
Capital of the North’’.
(e-source:
asensobinmaleypangasinan.com)
CALASIAO PUTO FESTIVAL-
The Puto Festival is an annual event that
celebrates a native delicacy of white
rice cake found in the Municipality of Calasiao. It’s monicker is ‘’white
gold’’ which is famous for throughout the Philippines. The fruition of this
idea was ignited by the desire to promote the ‘’puto’’ industry as well as to
help puto manufacturers adverstise their product and thrive in their business.
(e-source:
calasiao.gov.ph/putofestival)
MANAOAG GALICAYO FESTIVAL-
’Galicayo’’ means ‘’come here’’ while ‘’manaoag’’ means ‘’to call’’. Both
words were derived from stories on the Virgin Mary’s apparition in Manaoag where
she called on the people to come and build a
church.The weeklong festival is a unique celebration of faith, culture
and arts in honor of Our Lady of Manaoag.
(source:www.asensomanaoagpangasinan/galicayofestival.com)
ANDA BINUNGEY FESTIVAL ( BAMBOO CAKE FESTIVAL
)-
‘’Binungey’’ is a food made from mixture of
‘’malagkit’’ sticky rice, coconut milk, salt and placed inside the bamboo and
cooked in a low fire. It is the number
one product of Andanian’s which they used to prepare and offer for the visitors
during fiestas and special occasions.
(source: Mendoza, Cheryl, Pangasinan Festivals:
Indicators of Peoples Culture, Arts, and Empowerment, April 2015, and photo googled )
As an Andanian, I am delighted that this
yearly festival has entertained our townsfolk and visitors. My pride, my home!
Overall, festivals of the north uplift our
community’s background, exhibit our nation’s legend, and strengthen our family
ties. Mabuhay Pangasinan! ( Long live Pangasinan!)
********************************************************************
[CAROLINE NAZARENO A.K.A. CERI NAZ, (AN AWID
MEMBER), KNOWN AS A ‘POET OF PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP’, IS A MULTI-AWARDED POET,
EDITOR, JOURNALIST, PUBLIC SPEAKER, LINGUIST, EDUCATOR, PEACE AND WOMEN’S
ADVOCATE.]
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