CEBU – The municipality of Borbon will launch the Silmugi Festival this coming January as its official festival during the town’s fiesta celebration in honor of its patron saint San Sebastian Martyr.

This was what the municipal and barangay officials, together with the officials of Department of Education agreed recently.

Borbon Mayor Bernard “Butch” Sepulveda and Vice Mayor Neal Vergara announced during the meeting with the barangay captains and district supervisors and school principals that the launching of Silmugi Festival will be the response to the challenge of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

According to Sepulveda, Borbon is one of the towns that failed to participate in the latest Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, a festival of festivals that is spearheaded by the provincial government.

With this, he said the municipal government will launch Silmugi Festival as the town’s yearly festival.

The mayor further said the municipal government will develop Silmugi River into an eco-tourism site that will attract more visitors especially tourists.

Vergara, for his part, said the municipal government will focus on two big projects next year —the Silmugi Festival and the development of Silmugi River as eco-tourism place in northern Cebu.

Abraham Sollano, principal of Borbon National High School said they will fully support the move of the municipal government in conducting the festival.

Robert Vergara, president of the Association of Barangay Councils and barangay captain of barangay Poblacion also assured they will fully support the projects.

Governor Garcia and members of the provincial board promised the municipal officials of Borbon of their support to the plan to develop Silmugi River as eco-tourism site in northern Cebu.

She said the Silmugi Festival will be an added attraction to the Capitol’s program in promoting other tourist events of the town.

The festival is named after Silmugi River, which stretches for about 12 kilometers from barangay Vito to Suba.

The river is named Silmugi after the alleged founder of the settlement along the river prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. There also used to be a huge tree by the river which residents called Silmugi.

The Silmugi River played a big part in Borbon’s growth as it was able to accommodate boats. — Jose P. Sollano/WAB (THE FREEMAN)