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Calinog's Hirinugyaw-Suguidadonay Festival In the wake of modernization and technological breakthrough in the world today, an age-old cultural heritage that mirrors the vast wealth of the past is deeply carved in the gentle hearts of the “ Calinognons ” as depicted in their annual celebration of Hirinugyaw Festival.
Calinog , a town hailed as one of the cleanest and greenest municipalities in the country, celebrates Hirinugyaw Festival every fifth Sunday of the year. This year, the Hirinugyaw Foundation and the people unite in innovating the festivity by interconnecting “ Suguidadonay ”, a Panay Bukidnon dialect which means “sharing” to the whole concept of the celebration. Panay Bukidnons are the aborigines living in the mountains of Calinog . These people recite unique ethnic rituals and chants worthy to be treasured.
The organizers of the festival also wanted to honor Calinog's national artist and historian Federico Caballero for his great effort to chronicle and translate the ethnic chants of the Panay Bukidnons in a four volume book that truly mirrors the true essence of the town's rich cultural wealth. In the light of cultural awakening, this year the exceptional festivity was finally dubbed as “ Hirinugyaw-Suguidadonay ” to revive the past, soar in jubilee and be one in spiritual bliss… Enthralling panoramic scene
Seven tribes participated in this year's festival tribe competition held last January 30, 2005. The participating tribes filled the different judging areas with roaring cheers and blissful feelings as they perform with deep devotion. The competition started in the morning and ended past noon but the energy of the people remained alive throughout the night. The winners in the tribes competition are: Tribu Manahis (Best in Street Dancing), Tribu Bulalakaw (Most colorful Costume), Tribu Maragtas (Best in Headress ), Tribu Subay (Most Unique), Tribu Bana-ag (Best in Endurance) and Tribu Maruikudo (Most Attractive). Overall, Tribu Bulalakaw emerged as the Second Runner-up winner with the Best in Music award under their name while Tribu Bana-ag fatefully took the First Runner-up place. Finally, the energetic Tribu Dila-dila was declared this year's champion sweeping various other awards such as Best in Choreography, Costume, Performance and Most Disciplined tribe.
Festivity postscript Calinog as a town with great sense of cultural pride and unfading unity of its gentle-hearted people continue to revive, emulate, and treasure the wealth of the past bestowed upon them. With the undying effort of their prolific leader, Mayor Alex Centena , the Hirinugyaw organizers, government employees, public school teachers, and generous sponsors, this exceptional festival in the province of Iloilo will ceaselessly reign in the limelight of national cultural scene. Above all, God's blessing will never falter for the people of this humble town live in an endless compassion for spiritual devotion and thanksgiving of His greatness. |
