These past weeks I have been busy. Not only in finishing the house repairs and cleaning but also because we have a Salakayan Festival in my town. It is a 1 week festivities which started Feb. 4 up tp the 11th. Tomorrow is the finale with the coronation of the Queen of Miagao. I do not think I will attend because it is late at night .
The week-long festivities features different religious-cultural presentations, agro-trade fairs, pageant contests, Higante competition, sports, reunions, free movie showing, food fest and other affairs. A lot of people from abroad come home to enjoy and bring guests.
The highlights include a Tribes Competition. It is a street dancing contest that shows the victorious battle which happened on May 7, 1754. The battle was between the local defenders against the Muslim marauders who would frequently attack Miagao's shoreline and took the belongings of the people living there. Since the defenders won the historic attack or what they called "salakay", the festivities was given the name "Salakayan"
This year they had 7 contesting tribes. I was lucky to be able to watch it from my balcony, I tried to take pictures. But as you can see there were a few hindrances.
I was only able to get 6 pictures. The one I was not able to take was Tribu Bacolodnon. The tribes are named after the school in the barangays. Thses tribes are made up of high school students and a few elementary students from the schools in the barangay. So each tribe consists of approx 3-6 barangays, So the warriors are from those brangays and then they coin a name out of them. SO the 7 competing tribes are :Tribu Bantal-an, Salagwayan, Bacolodnon, Tabuk-tabok, Kirayanon and Tabun-ak. There was another tribe but they did not compete because they competed in Iloilo city during the DInagyang and they won 1st runner-up. They only performed at the first judging area. Ours was the 3rd and last.
They are also given a synopsis or story-line to follow and emphasize. This year it was the "Hablon" or the weaved cloth that our town is famous for. Renowned dressmakers or couturier would order by bulk from our town. Nono Palmos, a famous one, happens to be from my town and he started the fab. I also know some actresses would have gowns designed by them. I will make a post next time about these cloth.
These are some of the tribes and their costumes and big colorful props.
Some had models parading in gowns and dresses made from hablon. Even the shirts used in our Government Office are made of "Hablon" which can also be called a type of "Barong"
This was all in the morning from(am- 12:30pm. Then around 4pm there was a float parade of the queen, princesses, and pat queens. Also there were a lot of drum and bugle corps and different organizations, companies, promotions and different groups of motorcycle orgs.
Last year's Queen was the Mayor's youngest daughter and of course she had to parade. She will be crowning her successor. I heard the dancer Zues will attend. Last year Myrtle Sarossa was one of the guests because she is close to the Mayor's family.
She wore a beautiful red dress made of hablon. The next pictures are the princesses and their consorts for this year. The dresses and shirts are made of hablon.
Pink Color
Violet Color
Lavender and Pink Color
Pink and gold accent.
Then finally the Queen. She happens to be a relative. Her older sister was Queen last 2014 and 2011 my niece also a Nufable was Queen. She wore blue,
There so many floats. They got bigger and better. If you could afford you can make a big grand one, filled with flowers and more. They are only 2 girls in the family and their dad is a seaman.
There was even a traveling live band that was following at the end. The coronation is the grandest and colorful affair. There would be fireworks and a live band and some TV personalities that will attend.They usually wait till almost midnight to release the fireworks. There will also be some Government Officials who will attend. It is hard for me to stay up that late but I could see the fireworks from my house.
I hope you all liked the culture of my place and maybe someday you would be able to visit.
PICTURES ARE ALL MINE
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