Lawihan proves viability of barangay-based festivals

CEBU, Philippines – A bigger and colorful Lawihan Festival is expected next year after it was successfully launched in Malapascua Island in Daanbantayan town last Monday during the feast of the Nuestra Señora Virgen delos Desamparados.

The Lawihan Festival is a barangay-based festival separate from the municipality’s Haladaya Festival every 30th of August of every year.

Barangay captain Rex Novabos of Logon which is also known as Malapascua Island said that they already saw what needs to be corrected next time.

One of the things Novabos is looking forward to next time is to have more sponsors now that the staging of the festival is proven that can be done at the barangay level.

Major sponsors of the festival are Cebu 4th district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon and his sister, Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung who personally witnessed the event and even served as one of the judges.

Rep. Salimbangon was the one who inspired Novabos to come up with their own festival in the island for tourists to watch during peak season or summer time.  

The Lawihan Festival is now an added attraction for local and foreign tourists aside from the white sand beaches and the famous thresher sharks that never fail to enthrall dive enthusiasts.

Six contingents from different sitios of barangay Logon joined the festivity donning the old costumes of the Tribu Malapascua contingent used during the past Haladaya Festival of the municipality.

Lawihan comes from “lawi” which is the local name of the elongated tail of the thresher sharks that thrive at the Monad Shoal.

Also highlighting the celebration was the colorful parade of around a hundred big and small boats around the island, joined in by devotees as well as local and foreign guests. — Gregg M. Rubio/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)