This year’s town
fiesta has a theme: “Buhat, Pakigsaro, Harayo pa an lalakton.”
This year’s Executive
Committee told this writer that a lot of ecstatic activities, daily and
nightly, had been lined up starting as early as September 19 in
connection to the 415th year of consecration of Basey to its patron
Saint Michael the Archangel and its 104th Annual Town Fiesta, which
will culminate on September 29, this year.
Mayor Vicente C.
Labuac Jr., the over-all chairman of the grand fiesta said among the
activities lined up will be the holding of a meaningful religious
activities such as the Pagbungto Rites (Sept. 19), Parish Night (Sept.
20) and the holding of novena masses.
The regular festival
events like the annual Kawayan-Banigan Festival Parade, Rayhak han
Kabataan (Sept. 21), Grand Pasundayag (Sept. 25), the Search for Ms.
Guibaysayi 2006 (Sept. 26), Balik-Bayan and EVTC nights (both falls on
Sept. 27), ABC and LGU nights (Sept. 28), SK and PYAP nights (Sept.
29), Grand Alumni Homecoming (Sept. 30) will also be sustained.
The Kawayan-Banigan
Festival Parade is a yearly dance parade of pageantry and colorful
mats, winding through the town key streets, reliving the two main
source of livelihood of Basaynons – bamboo and mat weaving - through
their music, dance and drama.
This festival became
famous when hundred of community folks paraded a one-meter wide mat
and claimed now as the world’s longest mat in Fiesta feat in year
2000. Since then, the town, which has weaving as its prime industry,
comes to life when it celebrates outlandishly the feast of St.
Michael, its patron saint.
The highlight of the
feast is the Banigan-Kawayan Festival, where the women of Basey weave
a variety of intricately designed mats from sedge grass locally known
as tikog (Fimbristylis milliacea). This tradition was handed down from
many generations, and up to now.
To make this year’s
fiesta merrier, Mayor Labuac informed that the Committee has also
prepared some healthy competition among the youths such as Battle of
the Bands, Ballroom Dancing, Pop Dance, Singing and Rhythm Band and
Merry-Makers Competition, and “Tagisan ng Talino” in the Pasundayag
nights.
“A big big prize await
to the winners. This will be a great opportunity for us to enjoy, and
I am inviting you all,” the mayor said.
Meanwhile, Basey
information officer Evangeline O. Ritaga, Chairman of the Cultural
Committee said that the search for the Miss Guibaysayi 2006, the most
awaited event during the 12-day celebration of this town, is a beauty
and brains contest of ladies between 15 to 25 years old who can amply
“promotes the quality of life as a Basaynon.”
”We will be providing
a nightly entertainment or cultural presentations for all Basaynons,
our visitors and those people living in nearby municipalities thus
livening up this year’s celebration,” Ms. Ritaga said. “That means
that we will have more fun and festive atmosphere this year,” she
added.
In part of their
messages of support, Parish Team Ministry Fr. Niceas Abejuela and Fr.
Dionesio Calderon said, “… as our Diocese is preparing for its Synod,
this Fiesta is a fitting avenue to realize the theme - “Buhat,
Pakigsaro, Harayo pa an lalakton...” For we gather our strength in our
solidarity in prayer and action, making the protection of St. Michael
as our shield against temptations of discord and apathy. May we all
work for the glory of God, the good of each Basaynon.”
Basey Vice-Mayor
Edgardo Rebamontan, “as we welcome this year’s Feast Day of our
beloved Patron, St. Michael, the Archangel the heavenly warrior and
God’s protector of his Church and his people, we take pleasure in
inviting everyone to join this happy occasion, not only to share (but)
to thank our Lord God, through the intercession of St. Michael for His
continued providence and protection, despite our unworthiness.”
In his part, Rep.
Catalino Figueroa of Samar 2nd district, “… my deep love and concern
for your municipality carries with it the great responsibility of
ensuring that the community is well taken cared of and to guarantee
the safety and security of your town… maupay nga fiesta ha iyo
ngatanan!”
Meantime, in a meeting
with the family of this year’s Hermano Esperato Palomino Sr., who
passed away last November 2005, the following were listed official
members of the Basey Town Fiesta Executive Committee: Chairman, Mayor
Vicente Labuac Jr.; Co-Chairman, Rev. Fr. Niceas Abejuela, Rev. Fr.
Dionesio Calderon, Mrs. Agustina Palomino, Atty. Ruben Palomino, Mrs.
Elizabeth P. Garcia, Mr. Jose Palomino; Executive Officers, Aurora
Colinayo, Erlinda Aguihon, Rodolfo Gad; and members, Sol Latorre,
Wigberto Belizar, Dr. Asisclo Labnao, Jaime Dacurawat and Nestor
Tabungar.
These people, it was
learned, solicited the usual cooperation and support of the business,
academe, government and non-government associations in order to ensure
a successful holding of this year’s fiesta celebration.
