Fisher’s tribe, wine-making festival win Leyte’s Pintados-Kasadyaan crown

TACLOBAN CITY, June 27 -- The festivals honoring fishermen and the traditional way of making coconut wine are this year’s winner of Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival, a showcase of dances, music and cultural heritage in Leyte province.

Sanggutan Festival of Barugo, Leyte is the champion of the competition, bringing home the PHP750,000 grand prize.

Incoming Barugo Mayor Ma. Rosario Avestruz said that people in their town are happy with the achievement, especially that they gave their best as a way expressing gratitude to all the blessings their town has received.

“It is not that easy for us to defeat a hall of famer, however, I believe that in God’s perfect timing, each group has its time to shine,” said Avestruz, who will replace his husband, Alden in the local government.

Sanggutan Festival defeated the Buyogan Festival (3rd place) of Abuyog, Leyte, which was a champion for several years in the competition. Tolo-usa Festival of Tolosa town was adjudged as the second placer.

The festival is a dance of the drinkers, honoring the age-old process of making local coconut wine known as “tuba.” The interpretative dance is celebrated every May 18.

The second and third placers got PHP500,000 and PHP250,000 cash prizes, respectively. The winner will represent the region in the annual Aliwan Festival in Pasay City.

In the Pintados category, the champion is Mangirisda Festival of Tanauan, Leyte. The group got PHP100,000 cash reward.

Tribu Siete Quatro of Tacloban City is the second placer and earned the PHP60,000 prize while Tribu Mananguite from Basey, Samar is the third placer with a cash reward of PHP40,000.

Contingents held a parade around the city on Monday morning and returned to the Leyte Sports Development Center for the grand ritual presentation.

According to Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla, chairperson of the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival this year, there were less participants this year since local government units officials were busy for the 2016 elections.

A grand merry making at the Leyte Sports Development Center followed after the announcement of the winners.

The Pintados Festival is a cultural-religious celebration in Tacloban based on the body-painting traditions of the ancient tattooed "pintados" warriors.

In 1986, the Pintados Foundation, Inc. was formed to organize this festival in honor of Sr. Santo Niño. Years later, it was merged with the Kasadyaan Festival. (PNA)

FFC/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/EGR