“Lingganay” retains Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival championship crown

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
June 28, 2012

TACLOBAN CITY  –  The Lingganay Festival of Alangalang, Leyte once again bagged the Pintados-Kasadyaan crown in a spectacular festival presentation held at the jam-packed Leyte Sports Complex on June 27.

Closely behind Lingganay as the second placer was Pasaka Festival of Tanauan, Leyte and third placer Karatong Festival of Dulag, Leyte.

The grand champion through Mayor Loreto Yu received P500,000 cash prize, a trophy and the chance to represent the province of Leyte in the next Aliwan Fiesta in Manila.

The Lingganay Festival got its name from the Waray word Lingganay which means a 'bell'.

The festival was conceptualized sometime in 1995 based on the legend of the town's lost ‘golden bell’. It was said that one time when the moro pirates surprised the people, they tried to fled away with the bell.

When they reached the Bakga River, they threw the golden bell into the deepest part of the river to prevent it from getting into the hands of the Moro pirates.

Until today, the bell has not been found but it is said that its sound can be barely heard coming from the bottom of the river.

It is celebrated in conjunction with the town's fiesta on the 19th of June. According to oral history, since 1995, Lingganay has been joining festival dance competitions especially during the Pintados Kasadyaan.

Lingganay Festival has etched its mark in the culture and arts of Leyte, as it won as grand champion in the 2011 Pintados Kasadyaan Festival. It also bagged several awards in different festival competitions both locally and nationally.

The Lingganay Festival was second runner up in the latest Aliwan Festival in Manila in April.

Earlier this year, it brought home P1 million cash prize and trophy as the grand champion in the free interpretation category in the Sinulog 2012 besting 28 other contingents from all over the country.

This year’s Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival was participated in by eleven contingents for the Kasadyaan category and another ten tribes for the Pintados category.