Janiuaynons are people of Janiuay, Iloilo. Located in the heart of Iloilo, 29 kilometers away from the city, the community of Janiuay have a colorful history that stretches back to a rich pre-colonial era.
One tourism event of the town is the Sadsad Festival, also known as Lanot Festival. It is a public presentation expressing the beliefs, views, visions, and aspirations of the Janiuaynons based on their tradition, historical experiences, and culture.
When is it celebrated?
The tradition festival is celebrated every January 19 to give pride to the rich history, landmarks, and products of the place. Abaca, which belongs to the hard fiber group, is one of the highlights of the festival.
What is the importance of abaca to Janiuay?
Iloilo is considered as one of the largest abaca fiber-producing provinces in the region due to the thriving industry operating especially in Janiuay. A good abaca portion of the land measures 17,910 hectares, a place where opportunities for production are increasing.
Abaca fiber is considered as one of the most important and profitable agricultural products of the province. Its superior qualities are strength, durability, and resistance to salt water. It can be made into many hard-wearing products, has a beautiful texture when made into hats and other products, is biodegradable and eco-friendly, and is relatively cheap to produce. Presently, the town is making export-quality products such as bags, hats, slippers, and other home decors.
What are the features of Lanot or “Sadsad sa Kalye” Festival?
Janiuay offers a lot of festival. If Tultugan Festival has Bamboo, then Lanot Festival has Lanot! Lanot is a type of grass or abaca which abounds in Janiuay while Sadsad is a native word that means dance. Oway is the origin of Janiuay and another word for Lanot.
Street dancing is a much awaited activity in the event where people dance in the streets celebrating their town’s foundation day! It is a street dancing affair buoyed by the kaleidoscopic prism of cultured grace and fineness that reflect the qualities of the town. They honor their ancestors by wearing costumes of traditional designs and putting decorative symbols on their arms, legs, and torso.
What are the other activities of the Festival?
The week-long celebration of the festival also includes popular activities such as:
- Karosa
- Parada
- Pinta Karabaw
- Sinadya sa Suba
What does Lanot Festival envision?
Lanot Festival aims to bring public awareness on its multi-level relevance to all aspects of human endeavor to generate a continuous livelihood development in conjunction with the implementation and sustenance of Abaca resource management program for an economically stable Janiuaynons.