"SILHIG FESTIVAL"

Broom Festival

 Silhig Festival was originated in Paknaan Mandaue

Cebu Philippines in February 6, 2012

The barangay is set to showcase its broom-making industry again as it stages the third

Silhig Festival on Feb. 9. “Silhig” is the Cebuano word for broom.

“Para nako dili gyud a-ngayan mawala ang paghimo og silhig diri sa Paknaan

(For me, broom-making in Paknaan should not stop),” said Lauron, mother of eight.

Paknaan Barangay Captain Malaquias Soco said 20 to 25 percent of the barangay’s

population are engaged in broom-making. The biggest

 barangay in Mandaue, Paknaan has 30,000 residents.

“We hold the Silhig Festival every year for two reasons: to highlight the celebration

 of the Sto. Niño and to promote our local industry to the rest of the country,” Soco said.

Apart from holding the festival, another initiative Soco has taken is the

creation of a cooperative that markets the products of the broom-makers.

Highlights of the Silhig Festival

Festival Queen

Different women coming from different Barangay of Mandaue

compete for the Silhig Festival Queen 2014 title in

Paknaan Mandaue City, Philippines.

Dance Contest

DRESSED in colorful costumes, participants of this year’s Silhig Festival in Paknaan, Mandaue

City braved the heat of the sun for the street dancing competition and the grand showdown.

About 5,000 people showed up to witness the barangay’s third Silhig Festival in honor

 of Sto. Niño. The event lasted for six hours, which started at 1 p.m. yesterday.

The contingent of Zone Sibuyas, Kamatis and Repolyo known as Pundok

Tulaynon was declared champion in the grand showdown. They brought home P25,000.

Pundok Tulaynon also won the street dancing category and four minor

awards-best in basic steps, best in andas, best in costume and best in choreography.

Giovanni Rey Flores, 26, choreographer of Pundok Tulaynon,

said his secret for winning those awards was applying what he learned during the Silhig Festival’s choreography workshop.

Last year, Flores’ contingent only landed in second place, after they were

 deducted 10 points because of their failure to apply the basic steps of the festival.

“We came up with a solemn concept.I had a solid production,” he said.

Contingent Makugihung Lumad sa Calupe of Zone Camote, Luy-a and

 Pechay won second place, while the contingent of Zone Monggos, Carrots and Paliya

named as Tribu Mongcarpa settled in third place.

Jenissa Gitgano, 23, of Zone Kamunggay, Ube and Gabi was proclaimed as the Silhig Festival Queen 2014.

The rest of the contingents that were not included in the top performing

groups received consolation prizes of P10,000 each.

Mandaue City Councilors Emmarie “Lollipop” Ouano, Beethoven

Andaya and Diosdado Suico attended the celebration.

Paknaan Barangay Captain Malaquias Soco thanked the Provincial Capitol and the Mandaue

City Government for their support in holding this year’s festival.

Suico, who spoke in behalf of Mayor Jonas Cortes, said in his speech that making brooms has been part of the Filipino tradition.

“Ang atong industriya sa silhig dili gayud mawagtang tungod kay usa kini ka tradisyon o

 sulundon nga panginabuhi ug kabahin sa atong kultura (The industry of broom will

never fade because this is part of our tradition, an inherited livelihood and culture),” Suico said.

Soco said that Paknaan is the only barangay in Mandaue that holds a festival.

Broom-making is the main livelihood of about 35 percent of Paknaan’s population.

Soco and the Barangay Council decided to hold Silhig festival to promote its local industry.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on February 10, 2014.

Other Destination in Mandaue City:

Mactan Bridge

Kakanin (Delicacies)

Puto, bico, palitaw and

many more.....

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