The Yagyag Festival, a barangay-based event in Negros Oriental, opened the Central Visayas Region’s participation to the Philippine Tourism Showroom at the lobby of “The New Department of Tourism Building” in Makati City.
A mini version of the festival was presented at DoT Makati, derived from the full-scale performance that was originally staged and won first place during the Buglasan Grand Festival of Festivals in Dumaguete City last October.
Nonetheless, the condensed version impressed Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo enough to make her decide to bring the festival to an international travel fair next year.
“This rendition of the Yagyag Festival is so beautiful, we have to bring it abroad as part of the Philippine cultural showcase in international travel fairs,” Teo said.
“The lyrics of the accompanying song, which is in the vernacular, will just have to be translated into English so the foreign audience will understand,” she said.
According to barangay chairman Edwin Parajado, this festival of coastal Barangay Cangmating in Sibulan town mimics the spawning ritual performed by thousands of land crabs like the cagang (scientific name Cardisoma Carnifex) and the alalasan (Episesarma Singaparense) along the village shores and riverbanks every last quarter of the year.
“Through a tapestry of native costume, dance and music, the well-choreographed performance imitates the crabs’ characteristics of solidarity as well as of propagating and protecting the own kind and of renewing their unending cycle of life,” choreographer Trifo Colina said.
Officer-in-charge Judy de la Cruz-Gabato of DoT-Region VII, invited the public to take a glimpse of their regional exhibit and sale of native products from the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Syquijor and Negros Oriental.
“Our two-week showcase presents well-known and trademark delicacies like the chicharon, otap, rosquillos, peanut kisses and banana chips, and the well-crafted products of local communities and micro-small medium enterprises such as handbags and table-runners to export quality fashion accessories of Arden and Nature’s Legacy. All these present how diverse Central Visayas is in terms of products, activities and attractions,” Gabato said.
“Central Visayas is one of the most popular destinations of the Philippines. I have been to its many nooks and crannies for the past decades. And I congratulate the local stakeholders for showcasing some of the best of our country and making what Central Visayas is today as one of the topnotch regions of the Philippines,” Undersecretary for Tourism Development Benito Benzon Jr. said.
Organized with the support of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and Sibulan Mayor Jose Abiera, the Yagyag Festival was also adjudged the National Champion of the Best of the Bests during the WOW Philippines in 2003 and Grand Champion during the 2005 Sinulog de Cebu Street Dancing Competition.