SOLI-SOLI FESTIVAL
Soli-soli Festival is a parade of reeds and thanksgiving offering
to Saint Joseph, their patron. It emphasizes the highlights of a
street dancing movement, harvesting and weaving. This festival
falls on every 14th of February and located in San Francisco Camotes,
Island. Soli-soli was named after the native grass which aboundant
in Lake Danao and this grass is their source of livelihood for the
people living in this place. Soli - soli help the people to grow
and become more progressive in their economic standards
of living.
Though Sinulog-inspired, the street dancing and rituals are based on
storylines on the arrival of St. Josephs image in San Francisco,
the towns Christianization and the legend of Lake Danao.
It is believed that the Spaniards made a mistake when they
brought St. Josephs image to San Francisco and that of St. Francis
to the neighboring town of Poro.
images reportedly would always find their way back to the
churches where they were originally brought.
For Lake Danao, legend says it came to be after a
couple name Insiong and Insiang fought heavily and
ended up summoning thunder and
heavy rain to settle their differences.
When the floods came, the couple swam away
from each other in two loops, resulting in the
creation of the lake with its present
shape that resembles a number eight.
Named after the Soli-Soli plant which abounds around
Lake Danao, used for mat weaving, bags, hats and other
handicrafts. Soli-Soli features freestyle street dancing
competition using soli-soli plant as its dominant material.
The festival adds color to the feast of St. Joseph the Worker.