Carigara, Leyte to mark 445th founding anniversary

CARIGARA, Leyte, Jan. 15 (PNA) - The local government here is gearing up for its 445th founding anniversary celebration on January 25.

Several socio-cultural activities have been planned for the two-week celebration, which will start on Jan. 18 and will end on the anniversary day.

Mayor Edurado C. Ong said village officials agreed to have a nightly activity with live band performance for two weeks dubbed as “Tambayan ni Gara.”

On Jan. 18, a bloodletting activity is slated and awarding of the reverted lots to residents of Mahulos subvillage.

At least eight days of the two-week celebration will be devoted to farmers and fisherfolks through an agri-techno farmers forum, food processing demonstration, distribution of tilapia fingerlings, distribution of vegetable seeds, agri-trade fair for local farmer’s contest and garden show contest.

A medical mission and feeding program is slated on Jan. 20. It will be followed with a mass wedding on Jan. 21.

Jan. 22 is the day dedicated to students where there will be an inter-school singing contest, draw and tell contest and a folkdance contest.

A coastal clean-up along boulevard to be headed by the Senior Fire Officer Felipe A. Molabola, Jr. and his staff in scheduled on the 23rd.

On the founding anniversary, officials from 49 villages will join a thanksgiving and wreathlaying ceremony at Datu Gara Shrine.

There will be a cooking contest dubbed as “Tatak Carigara” where famous food unique in Carigara, will be featured.

In the afternoon, a float and civic parade is slated and a fireworks display after the party dubbed as “Rayhak han Tulin ni Gara” will cap the two-week celebration.

According to online encyclopedia Wikipedia, Carigara was originally called Kangara, meaning "that of Gara" or simply "Gara's."

Gara was said to have come from Borneo, one of the unnamed companions of the ten datus who landed in Panay and purchased that island from the Ati (or Aeta) chief Marikudo. Later, for phonetic convenience, Kangara became Kalgara and when the Spaniards came, they called the place Carigara. (PNA)
FPV/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA