Leyte holds first post-Yolanda festival

MANILA, Philippines - Much has been written and said about the massive destruction and loss of lives brought about by Super Typhoon Yolanda to Leyte and neighboring provinces.

But when it recently held its first festival after the storm, it sent a very strong message that it is on the road to recovery, and the cultural soul of Leyteños lives on.

Dubbed Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival, the event is part of the feast of the Sto. Niño de Tacloban, patron saint of Leyte.

Gov. Dominic Petilla said that despite apprehensions on pushing through with the event, organizers decided to proceed with the annual fest.

He said that this move highlights the resilience of Leyteños’ amidst diversity, and helps in the healing process after the calamity.

Kicking-off the religious-inspired festivity is the traditional Balyuan where the replica image of El Teniente Sr. Sto. Niño Tacloban was brought in a fluvial parade to Basey town in Samar.

The pioneer cultural extravaganza in Eastern Visayas incepted in 1987, Pintados (literally “painted people”) is a tribute to the tattooed precolonial tribal inhabitants of Samar and Leyte who were known for their bravery and artistry.

It was later merged with the province-wide Kasadyaan Festival, literally meaning merry-making in the Waray-Waray language, which showcases the folklore of the various municipalities.

Eighteen years hence, Kasadyaan has brought fame and fortune to its various municipal festivities, such as Buyogan of Abuyog, Pasaka of Tanauan and Lingganay of Alang-alang by winning cultural competitions in Cebu and Manila.

With towns still recovering and rebuilding, many municipal mayors declined to join this year’s festivities. In their stead, five award-winning festivals from all over the Visayas came in as a sign of solidarity with the people of Leyte.

These were the Maskara of Bacolod, Sinulog of Cebu City (represented by Tribu Lumad Basakanon), Kawayan-Banigan Festival of Basey, Uway of Talalora and Mayaw-Mayaw of Pinabacdao, all from Samar, who displayed their spirit-uplifting dances at the Leyte Sports Center in Tacloban City.

Representing Pintados Festival was a small elementary school contingent from Tacloban City’s Barangay San Jose, one of the villages hardest-hit by Yolanda.

The governor said the festival hopes to inspire townsfolk and encourage foreign aid agencies and tourists to visit the province to help boost its local economy.

Among Leyte’s hottest attractions is Kalanggaman islet in Palompon, known for its 200-meter powdery sandbar and crystalline water which has already attracted two European cruise ships to its shores. Palompon is also noted for mitigating the impact of the storm surge with its extensive mangrove forests planted near shore.

Other attractions include the scenic mountaintop Danao Lake in Ormoc City, the Sibugay Mountain Resort in Albuera which boasts of a zipline, the heritage village of Baybay City, island-hopping adventure at Cuatro Islas, the mangrove boardwalk of Inopacan and the charming Canigao Island in Matalom.

Meanwhile, local tour operators and non-government organizations assisting typhoon victims have laid out a “voluntourism” program wherein guests volunteer in reconstruction activities as part of their tour of Leyte’s attractions.

Petilla added this year also marks the 70th anniversary of the Leyte Gulf Landings where Allied Forces led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur landed in Palo on Oct. 20, 1944 to start the liberation of the Philippines from Japan during World War 2.

This will be a grand milestone celebration which will have adjunct observances in the towns of Tolosa and Dulag, which form part of the historic Leyte Gulf events in 1944.

Pintados-Kasadyaan is organized by the Pintados Foundation Inc. with the Kasadyaan Kultura Leyteña Inc., municipal government of Palo, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, the Department of Tourism-Region 8, Leyte Normal University and Eastern Visayas State University, Department of Energy, Provincial Association of Government Employees and Leyte Provincial Tourism Culture and the Arts Council, Inc.

Corporate supporters are Energy Development Corp., San Miguel Corp., Pepsi Cola Products Phils. Inc., San Miguel Brewery, Smart Communication, Gardenia, Philippine National Bank, and RL Appliance Center.

The festival drew to a close with a homecoming show titled “Pasasalamat Pusong Waray: A Thanksgiving Concert” featuring Kapamilya network TV and movie sensation Daniel Padilla.

Produced by DJP Production and Entertainment in cooperation with My Phone and ABS-CBN, the show also featured onscreen love team partner Kathryn Bernardo, Jason Fernandez, Franchize and Kris Angelica in a jampacked Leyte Sports Development Center in Tacloban City.

Front acts included home-grown chick rocker Bjean Navarrete, Icot Idol singing contest winners and local ABS-CBN musical talents.