The birth and evolution of Sadsad sa Molo to Sadsad sa Parian
Already on its fifth year, Sadsad Sa Parian is something Moleños look forward to. It is an occasion for them to bind families, show their best and beat the odds in venerating the Child Jesus.
Sadsad sa Parian is a parish activity to honor Child Jesus. The celebration has evolved to become both religious and cultural activity. It has its early beginnings in 2004 when Rev. Fr. Tomas Delicana sent a tribe from Molo to join in the Bulilit ati competition, which was then one of the special events in Dinagyang festival.
The following year, the parish shifted its focus by having parish-based activity in worshipping and thanking the Child Jesus with usual novenas, masses and foot procession in honor of the latter. Sadsad is an Ilonggo word for stumping one's feet. It is a gesture of joy expressing honor and thanksgiving to God in the person of the Child Jesus for the blessings received by the faithful.
In 2006, the devotion, faith and spirit of Moleños were awakened when businessman Rolando Layson donated a two-feet Sto. Niño image. His donation to the Molo Church is a manifestation of his faith to the Child Jesus.
It has driven the desire of Fr. Tom along with different organizations in the community to design a celebration that would bind the members of the family to gather and be child-like like Sto. Niño.
Since then, the image has made its home inside the Molo church, where devotees pray in honor of his feast that follows the Liturgical Calendar of the Church. It is placed at the left side of the altar.
The participation of Tribu Kalubihan, Parianon and Silak, drum and bugle corps and drum and lyre corps from different schools in Molo add color to the activity. The frenetic street dancing, the beat of the drums and the stumping of feet made the affair worthwhile for the Moleños. The success of the activity sparked an inspiration among the faithful in the parish such that they readily made it part of their religious life.
In 2007, another invention was made. A Live Sto. Niño Contest was integrated in the list of parish activities. Children aged 12 years old below garbed in different colorful Sto. Niño garment competed to get the title. The first Live Sto. Niño winner came from Barangay San Pedro, Molo.
Today, innovations are further initiated reflecting Molo's history. From Sadsad sa Molo, it became Sadsad sa Parian. Parian is the name given by Spaniards to places where they hamletted the Chinese traders to prevent them from revolting as what they did in Manila. There are only three Parians established in the entire country, they are located in Intramuros in Manila, Carbon in Cebu and Molo in Iloilo, of what is now Avanceña Street.
While, the word Molo emanated from a story that when Moros raided the place, the Chinese in Parian shouted "molo! molo!" instead of "moro!, moro!". The Chinese could not pronounce the letter R and instead substituted the letter L for it. The place then came to be known as Molo.
It has become a celebration that made people work together, unite the community for the common good and captivate the interest of the public in venerating and thanking Sto. Niño. This year's theme is "Sa Kadayawan ni Señor Sto. Niño: Pagpasalamat, Paghiliusa, Pag-ulikid sa Kabataan."
Sadsad sa Parian spectacle continues… the drumbeats and merrymaking. Sadsad sa Parian is now motley of sights, sounds and even smell and tastes of delicacies from Molo. It bespeaks not only the olden times when our aborigines worshiped the Sto. Niño but of which has evolved as distinctly Moleños.