The contingent from the municipality of Almeria, Biliran
Don't they look cute?
A very colorful contingent
The kid obligingly gave me a smile
The whole gown is made of the native material "banig"
The Patron Saint of Tacloban, Senyor Sto. Ninyo
After spawning a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), and a much ballyhooed stand off between local traffic enforcers on one hand and provincial officials, mayors, the "other" festival parade organizers on the other, the yearly "official" Sangyaw parade of the city fiesta started on a late note on June 29, 2011. Following "Filipino" time, the 1 o'clock scheduled start of the parade was not followed and it began at almost 2 p.m.
My small delegation of kibitzers consisting of the hubby, daughter B_ _, sister-in-law, my mom, and our "pinapa-eskwela" went in early downtown to secure a limited and in demand parking space for our ancient AUV. The heat was quite much so we had to turn on the aircon intermittently. To add to our woes, a not-too-nice-smell of a run-over dead cat permeated the air were. So, there, we got cooped up as early as 10:30 a.m.. amidst such not so comfortable conditions, so you understand my introductory rant to this post. The parade better be worth it, I mumbled to myself.
However, early on, I was beginning to regret bringing my family to watch as I saw delegations upon delegations of this and that organization. I expected a cultural parade and not an "Alay Lakad" as one kibitzer so sarcastically put it. Finally, after about almost a dozen of such groups clothed in indentifying t-shirts, the dance contingents from the different barangays and schools came through.
They were all clad in colorful costumes and truly, the Sangyaw parade had begun. It was a much better parade compared to the one I saw two years ago and give or take a few years it might catch up with its "rival", the Pintados-Kasadyaan, which had the headstart, which is arguably better in terms of a more lively, colorful parade with beautifully coordinated dance steps. Frankly, I cannot understand this "war" of festivals when we can actullay have one with the "other" retaining their identity and joining the official one. Really, what's in a name when we all profess to be honoring the Senyor Sto. Nino, the patron saint of our city?
The sad story of the festival squabble has shifted the limelight from the fiesta's festivities to a battle that has gone from the the airwaves to the halls of justice. One need not look far for an example and Cebu City's "Sinulog" festival comes to mind. Despite provincial and city public officials who are openly at loggerheads, the "Sinulog" festival has them put all these aside and trot to a unified yell of "Pit Senyor!". Why, I ask, can't we do the same? Anyway, "war" and all, that day we watched under the sweltering heat of the sun a show that came with story bigger that itself.
