Wednesday, October 12, 2011Community Collaboration for HAW-AS Festival in Dumangas

photo by Joe de Luna

A great time is planned with music and entertainment at the annual Haw-as Festival in Dumangas. As per festival tradition people gathered to witness and participate in community celebration to mark the festivity.

It is an annual thanksgiving festival for the bountiful fish harvest from the waters in the area. The festival uses the iconic bangus as its symbol because it is their number one product.

Aquaculture such as fish farming is feasible, sustainable and a profitable business here in Dumangas which is also being patronized by rice farmers as a source of their income to help improve the living conditions of their respective families. It is the fastest growing and the most popular food industry of Dumangas. It has grown considerably over many years to keep pace with consumer demand for fresh, high quality fish and seafood, and creating employment opportunities and economic growth, especially for Dumangasanons where it has become a mainstay in the area.

photo by Joe de Luna

Haw-as also celebrates the contribution made to Dumangas by those persons involved in the local fishing industry. The festivity offers every visitor the opportunity to learn more about the towns culture and to better appreciate and understand its value to the community.

Since its small beginnings, Haw-as Festival has become a part of the local tourist calendar and a vital contributor to the economy of Dumangas. It is a unique attraction that offers fun and entertainment for both locals and visitors alike.

The highlight of the celebration is the Haw-as Guban: competition dance extravaganza where participating tribes depict and interpret the haw-as or fish harvesting through a vivid visual display, graceful gyrations and well-choreographed dances in colorful costumes.

photo by Joe de Luna

Aside from the Haw-as Guban competition, other events on October 28 include a cultural and historical week celebration with the Pagbagting, a declaration of the opening of the festival at 8 a.m. followed by a motorcade, the Street Dancing competition at 3 p.m. and the Bangus and Seafood Extravaganza, a Sugbahanay sa Plaza at 7p.m.; October 29 opens with the 1st haw-as Festival Airsoft CQB Tournament at 8 a.m., and lhe Launching of the Dumangas Artist Guild for the Performing Arts (DAGPA) with a public screening of the film, Dumangas 2010 by Peter Solis Nery; October 30 is for Araw ng mga Kabataan with Laro ng Lahi and the PPSK Inter-Town Sports League at 8 a.m., the Quintin Salas Composo and Binalaybay Contest follows at 1 p.m. and the Hataw Kabataan at 9 p.m.; October 31 is the Quintin Salas Day and Haw-as Guban competition with a Run for Quintin Salas Marathon at 5 a.m., the fireworks display at 9 p.m. and a Party-Party with RCP Retro Band at 9:30 p.m.; the celebration caps with Ligum-Dulom: Kalag-kalag sa Plaza on November 1, 2011.

Dumangas is a 1st class municipality in the province of Iloilo. Politically subdivided into 45 barangays, the town is located northeast and almost an hour drive away from Iloilo City.Posted bybombetteat9:21 PMEmail ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to PinterestNo comments:Post a CommentNewer PostOlder PostHomeSubscribe to:Post Comments (Atom)Facebook BadgeBombette Golez Marin

Create Your BadgeILOILO: the Heart of the PhilippinesKnown as the heart of thePhilippines,Iloilostands at the crossroads of the orient and the developed Western world.Iloiloprides itself as the center of education, trade, commerce and tourism in the region. It occupies the southern and northeastern portion ofPanayIsland; to the north of it is the bountifulprovinceofCapizand the Jintotolo Channel;GuimarasStraitwashes its southern shores; to the eastern side are the calm waters ofPanayGulfandIloiloStrait; and the progressiveprovinceofAntiqueis its western neighbor. It lies in the midst of both; air and sea traffic.

Stretching 4,663 square kilometers,Iloilois composed of 42 municipalities and a component city. It is sub-divided into five (5) congressional districts with topography varying from flat lands and rolling hills to mountain peaks and ranges, and roll down into flat plains towards the coastal towns.IloiloCity; the vibrant provincial capital, is a booming financial center.

It has a population of 2,110,588 Ilonggos (2007 NSO survey) for both province and city combined.

Hiligaynon is its local dialect. Filipino is the national language. English, the business language, is spoken widely.

Buses, jeepneys, public utility vans (PUVs) ply the province while taxis and jeepneys ply the citys well-developed system of road network. Fares are fixed except for taxicabs which have metered fare.

HISTORY

Iloilois a junction over which Malay, Spanish, Chinese, American cultures met in the course of centuries. It has a colorful history that stretches back to a rich pre-colonial culture. According to oral tradition, 10Datusfrom the kingdom ofBornay(now Borneo), escaped from the wrath of an oppressive regime of SultanMakatunaoin 1225 A.D. Finding a place where they can live in peace and harmony, the 10 Datus or chieftains namelyDatu Puti(the leader),Datu Bangkaya,Datu Dumalugdog,Datu Sumakwel,Datu Lubay,Datu Paiburong,Datu Dumangsil,Datu Balensusa,Datu PaduhinogandDatu Dumangsol,along with their followers boarded on theirbalangays(vintas or boats) without knowing where to go, sailed across the Sulu Sea on their quest for the Promise Land. The group skirted to the southern tip of theislandofPanay, towards theSiwaraganRiverinSan Joaquinand proceeded to navigate inward toAndona creekjust within the settlement ofSinugbuhan.

It was said that whenDatu Putialong with his men landed inSinugbuhan, they met anaetawho at that time was fishing along the riverbank. Through him thedatuslearned aboutMarikudo, his people and his territory. And through this fisherman, they sought an audience with theaetachieftain. They sat down with the natives, negotiated and agreed to purchase the lowlands ofPanayfor their abode. According to the folk legend, they purchased the island from theNegritosled by their chieftainMarikudoand his wifeManiwantiwan, for a goldensadokorsalakot(hat) and amanangyad(long golden necklace) that was said to have touched the ground. Thedatusthen settled in the coastal areas of the island, while the natives agreed to live in the mountains and hinterlands.

Modern history ofIloilobegan in 1566 when the Spaniards under Legaspi, established their first settlement in Oton. Christian doctrine was propagated, with the church as their house of worship and where Ilonggos acquired their first education. Spaniards underMiguel Lopez de Legaspicame toPanayand established a settlement inOgtong(Oton) and later moved toLa Villa de Arevalo(Arevalo) as the seat of Spanish power in 1581 withGonzalo Ronquilloas deputyencomiendero. Because of rampant Moro attacks, the Spaniards moved to a village close to the mouth of the river.Irong-IrongorIlong-Ilong, the name shortened to Iloilo later became the capital of the province.

With its rapid economic growth, theportofIloiloopened to world trade in 1855 and soon became the center of commerce and trade in the whole Visayas andMindanao. It was in 1890 underBecera Law of 1899, theAyuntamientoofIloilo(City Government) was established by virtue of aRoyal Decree of 1896and was given the honor of having a Coat of Arms with the Inscription: La Muy Leal Y Noble Ciudad de Iloilo.

Iloilo Cityis made up of many small neighborhoods, full of old-world character, linked by narrow, winding streets. Students, foreigners and artists thrive in this area, attracted by its sense of history and cosmopolitan feel along with its trendy bars and good restaurants.

Peaceful climate, dynamism of the local economy, a better quality of life, rich pool of skilled workforce, and excellent accessibility and linkages are factors that help maintainedIloilos competitive position among other provinces in attracting investments and penetrating new markets for its products.

Iloilois place of perfect balance. It is fast-paced yet relaxed. It offers more than the usual; culture and arts, destinations, cuisine, people. Wherever you go, whatever you do, you will always enjoy the warmest and friendliest welcome in the heart of thePhilippines.

HOW TO GET TO ILOILOOne can travel from other parts of the country in style through NAIA inManilaas its premier gateway. Major airlines have roundtrip flights that take about an hour. The newIloiloAirportlocated in Cabatuan is built in a wider and panoramic place with state-of-the-art computerized facilities. It is 18 kilometers from the city and is accessible by van, jeepney and taxi. The city is the provinces port of entry for sea transport. Considered the third largest port in the country afterManilaandCebu, it is just five (5) minutes away from the citys main commercial district. Shipping lines have regular trips taking about 20 hours, 12 times weekly; 14 hours boat trip from Zamboanga or Cagayan twice a week; daily 12- hour trip toCebu. Fastcrafts fromBacolodCitytake 50 minutes. A relatively short trip and you are magically transported to a totally different environment. If ever a place could truly be called a melting pot of people and cultures,Iloilois it.Iloilo's FIRSTSPerhaps, no other province in thePhilippineshas a record of so manyFIRSTSas theprovinceofIloilo. The following list is by no means complete:

According to Maragtas Legend,Iloilois site of the Malayan landing in thePhilippines;

The first school for boys in thePhilippineswas founded in Tigbauan by Jesuitpriest and historian, Pedro Chirino in 1592;

The first place to put up a Christian church in thePhilippineswasJalaud(Dumangas) in what is now the barangay of Ermita, in 1566;

Iloilois the first city outsideManilato have a foreign business house, theLoney & Co.and the first foreign vice-consul;

The first province to export sugar toAustralia;

The only province to have two cities during the Spanish time:IloiloCity,chartered in 1890, and Jaro in 1891;

The biggest province in thePhilippinesin population, income and economicproduction during the 19thcentury;

The best and biggest producer of textile during the Spanish era;

The FIRST golf course in thePhilippines, Sta. Barbara Golf andCountryClub in Sta. Barbara, 1907;

The FIRST department store in the country,Hoskyn & Co.,established in 1877;

The FIRST commercial airline in the country was theIloilo

NegrosAir ExpressCo.(INAEC);

The FIRST Philippine airline established after World War II wasorganized by Ilonggos, theFEATI;

TheFIRSTProvincialHigh Schoolin thePhilippines, theIloiloNational HighSchool;

TheFIRSTElementary Schoolestablished under theAmericans,BaluarteElemenetarySchoolin Molo;

The FIRST protestant barrio in the country,Calvarioin Janiuay;

TheFIRSTBaptistChurchin thePhilippines,JaroEvangelical

Church;

The FIRST luxury liner in thePhilippines,S/S Don Esteban ofthe De laRama Line;

The FIRST city to have double-decked buses in the country;

The FIRST concrete road in the country, fromForbes Bridge toJaro Plaza;

The FIRST city to have a car assembly plant,Taller Visayas deStrachan& McMurray.The car assembled was the Deiler inthe 1920s;

The FIRST province to produce many millionaires and the firstcity to have amillionaires row;

The FIRST Filipino to launch the propaganda movement inSpain,GracianoLopez JaenaofJaroalso known as thegreatest orator thePhilippines everproduced;

The ONLY Filipino nominated to the Supreme Court of Cuba,RaymundoMelliza;

The FIRST Filipino to fly a passenger airplane,Jose Tinsayin1925;

The FIRST doctor of laws fromOxfordUniversity,MelquiadesGamboa;

The FIRST doctor of philosophy in Political Science,VictorinoDiamonon;

The FIRST Filipino doctor of Education,Pedro E. Y Rio;

The FIRST Filipino woman doctor of Philosophy in Engineering,Josette Garcia Portigo;

The FIRST Filipino doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology,F.Landa Jocano;

The FIRST Filipino to win the Congressional Medal of Honorduring the WWII,Captain Jose CalugasofLeon;

The FIRST Filipino soldier in the American Army to win medalsof Heroism and Courage from the governments ofUnitedStates,BelgiumandFranceduring the WWII,Sgt. RamonSubejanoof New Lucena;

The FIRST Filipino girl to be called the fastest woman inAsia,InocenciaSolisofNew Lucena;

The FIRST most-be-medaled Filipino girl swimmer,NancyDeanoofDingle;

The FIRST Filipino International Chess Grandmaster,EugeneTorreofLapaz;

The FIRST guerilla unit to contact Gen. Douglas MacArthur andPresidentQuezon by radio during World War II;

The FIRST Filipino lady to win a cultural heritage award,

MagdalenaJalandoniofJaro;

The FIRST Filipino feminist,Pura Villanueva Kalaw;

The FIRST modern custom house in the country;

The FIRST government constructed museum building in thePhilippines,Museo Iloilo;

The FIRST successful compact farm in the country,TagsingBuyo, Sta.Barbara;

The ONLY province to have an anti-biotic drug named afterit,IlozoneandIlotycinwhich are brands of erythromycin, awonder drugdeveloped from a soil sample fromIloilo;

The FIRST province to be declared a model in developmentplanning byNEC/ USAID;

The number one food-producing province of thePhilippinestoday;

The FIRST and ONLY town in thePhilippinesto produce fourjustices of theSupreme Court, seven senators, sevengovernors, and seven CabinetMembers;

The site of theFIRSTInternationalResearchCenterin thefishing industryin the country,SEAFDECinTigbauan;

The BIGGEST public school division in the country is theDivision of Iloilo;

The FIRST city that initiated a free education program is theelementaryschools by eliminating the matriculation fees andproviding free schoolsupplies and the elimination of tuition feesin public secondary schools.