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Sinadya sa Halaran

A Festival of Joy, sharing, and thanksgiving

DURING the first week of December every year, a fiesta-like celebration is staged by the Province of Capiz and the City of Roxas. It is known as Sinadya sa Halaran.

Sinadya and Halaran are Hiligaynon words which connote joy and sharing –two values that have guided Capiznons and their leaders in their day-to-day affairs.

Sinadya sa Halaran is a fusion of two major festivals –the Sinadya and Halaran.

Sinadya is the merry-making aspect of the Roxas City fiesta, which falls on Dec. 8 in observance of the Feast of the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, Patroness of Roxas City. For this year, it will also mark the 303rd anniversary of the Parish of the Immaculate Conception, which was established in 1707.

Halaran was first launched in June 1975. The celebration then recalled the landing in 1200 of the 10 Bornean datus in the island of Panay. It also highlighted the purchase of Panay Island, which was later came to be known as the Barter of Panay, by the Bornean datus from Negrito King Marikudo.

During the 1982 Halaran celebration, activities centered on Thanksgiving to the Almighty Father with Christian activities replacing pagan rituals like those performed by a Babaylan. The Babaylan is known in our modern time as someone who advocates the use of traditional medicines.

Sinadya, on the other hand, was celebrated in 1988 through the initiative of then Capiz Rep. Gerardo “Dinggoy” Roxas Jr. and his mother, Judy Araneta-Roxas. It has since become Roxas City’s major tourist attraction.

And for the first time, Capiz’s and Roxas City’s leaders staged in 1992 a show of unity by combining together the two festivals. This gave way to the birth of Sinadya sa Halaran.

With the efforts seen as highly-experimental, several sectors started clamoring for separate celebrations, thus paving the way for a separate Sinadya and Halaran celebrations in 1993. This set-up lasted for five years.

It was in 1998 that the two festivals were again merged with the merging lasting up to the present.

Through this year’s festival theme, “Pag-ambitanay or Sharing , Pagkinalipay or Joy, Pagpasalamat or Thanksgiving, Capiznons imbibe the spirit of sharing and oneness with nature, with their fellow beings and with their Divine Creator. Sinadya sa Halaran 2010 aims to highlight not only the authentic Capiznon culture of “inner joy” through sharing and thanksgiving but also to expand opportunities for the development of tourism in the Province under the catchword “Captivating Capiz.”

It also hopes to develop and strengthen collaboative efforts between government and community.

Through the festival, Capiznons also hope to instill in themselves a sense of pride and to gain greater consciousness about their rich cultural heritage.

One important feature of Sinadya sa Halaran is the Prosesyon sa Suba or the fluvial procession. Panay River, which gave Roxas City the moniker a River by the Sea, is highlighted in terms of its significance to the social, economic and religious life of Capiznons.

During the river procession, devotees release candles and floaters into the river as concrete expressions of their prayers for intercession by the Blessed Mother. This is a sight to behold.

Also during the procession, several rafts of the Basic Ecclesiastical Community zones participate in the fluvial procession carrying with them their respective patrons and their patroness.

The public is given the chance to maximize their participation through the Sinadya sa Kalye or street dancing activity. This is a spontaneous or informal activity which brings to the streets the different faces of Capiznons –their culture, their way of life. They are expected to dance to the beat of authentic Capiznon music.

Capiz’s and Roxas City’s beautiful women are also given importance through the Search for the Mutya sang Sinadya sa Halaran and the coronation of the fiesta queen. Winner of the “Mutya” Competition serves as the Province’s ambassadress of goodwill while the queen embodies the qualities of a typical Roxas City lass –level-headed, independent, focused on what really matters and determined to pursue her dreams.

The Parade of Higantes, which are giant mascots made of papier mache, make a comeback in this year’s Sinadya sa Halaran celebration. The giant animations will be seen in the form of seafood products like shrimps, crabs and shell fish to further boost the Province’s reputation as the “Seafood Capital of the Philippines.”

Under the leadership of Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco and Mayor Angel Alan Celino, Capiznons are laying the red carpet to their guests as they invite them not only to see and witness their rich culture and traditions unfold but also feel and experience their unique brand of hospitality.

Dali sa Roxas City kag Capiz!