Where drums and dancing once enlivened the streets of Hinatuan in August, heated debate simmered on Facebook as the town’s annual festival was axed. Was this the end of Paladong Festival?
If Davao has Kadayawan, Cebu has Sinulog and Baguio has Panagbenga Festival, the town of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur celebrates Paladong Festival. A tribal fiesta commemorating the town’s ethnic roots, Paladong Festival brought in visitors from various places, and augmented the town’s revenues with the influx of tourists.
Year 2018, however, came with an obvious void. Paladong Festival ceased being a competition. Where schools from constituent villages converged to deliver unique flavors of Paladong dance and music, only one school (last year‘s winner) made a presentation. The illustrious Paladong Festival was no more, and simply squeezed into a program as little more than an intermission number.
“Oh my.
Flight cancelled.”
Marjun Roy Diaz
Many residents who looked forward to the Paladong Festival were disappointed at its absence. Inbound trips may have been cancelled. Tourists who visit the town for the Paladong Festival would be less likely to come in the future.
“No Paladong Festival Competition is not okay,” says Patrice Villaluz. “Isn’t it supposed to be the highlight of our town fiesta?”
On the other hand, there are those who approve of the cancellation of Paladong Festival. “So sick of people being so traditional,” says Angeli Nazareno. “People don’t like change!”
On this point, Joshua Chu begs to differ: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
The discontinuation of Paladong Festival contest came in the wake of a change in administration from a native Kamayo mayor to a Bisaya incumbent. The younger mayor, Shem Garay, favors rock bands, and had the tribal competition replaced accordingly.
This change engendered conflicting reactions. “Why would they change an event that is responsible for the success of our past fiesta celebrations?” Joshua Chu, for one, questions the move.
Toring Howard, who approves of the scrapping of Paladong Festival as we know it, explains that the Paladong ritual is a “Satanic activity of the elders in the past.”1
What do you think? Would you favor the perpetuation of Paladong Festival? Or would you rather that this town festival be abolished?
Make your views heard. Vote in the poll below. Or post your thoughts in the comments.
Loading …Footnotes
- Said in the Kamayo language: “yawan on na kalihukan sauna ng mga hinuod”
What do you think?