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The Palayag Festival of Guimaras


Celebrated every 3rd Sunday of January by the municipality of Buenavista, this cultural festival makes maximum use of the rich cultural tradition of the oldest municipality of the province. The presentation of songs, dances and musical tableau depicts the various influences Buenavista has been subjected to. It is celebrated in honor of the town’s Patron Saint, Sr. Sto. Nino. “Palayag” marked a new footprint during the 2008 Buenavista Centennial Celebration. They defined “Palayag” as to sail through “Layag”-using water vessel.

by Jane Dacumos on May 22, 2012

Celebrated every 3rd Sunday of January by the municipality of Buenavista, this cultural festival makes maximum use of the rich cultural tradition of the oldest municipality of the province. The presentation of songs, dances and musical tableau depicts the various influences Buenavista has been subjected to. It is celebrated in honor of the town’s Patron Saint, Sr. Sto. Nino. “Palayag” marked a new footprint during the 2008 Buenavista Centennial Celebration.  They defined “Palayag” as to sail through “Layag”-using water vessel. This is indeed a Kinaradto-form of sea travel.

Swift “Paraos,” connected Iloilo and Guimaras. In the 1850s, Iloilo was opened by Sir James Bowring, a British Governor of Hongkong as an international port. Negros then has no good harbor for bigger ships so they used Guimaras as transship point to Iloilo. This gave an explanation why Jordan Wharf has the sugar bulk. While Jordan wharf was prospering, Buenavista was still enjoying its sandy shore.

Dr. Jose P. Rizal stated in his diary written in August 4, 1896, “Opposite Iloilo there is an island where the families go for picnics…. there are various vessels with foreign flags….” The land being referred to is surely Guimaras and the picnic place is the white sand, the “pasil of baybay.” “Baybay”(which is presently called Sto. Rosario), was the beach where sailboats from Guimaras Island daily bring in cargoes of fruits, fish and vegetables to Iloilo City. The same beach had been a subject for panting by an artist Miguel Zaragoza (1849-1923), and being exclaimed “Buena Vista” by the Iloilo Spanish Gobernadorcillo. The present day wharf was just constructed during World War II, the time of Gen. Douglas McArthur.

The beauty of the place as coupled by the craft of our people in miniature boat making was not just a culture by accident, but a culture rooted in the past. The natural beauty of the place and the economy of the town is dramatically boosted by the swift and gaily “layag”-using sea vessel. Thus, Palayag is a festival of the beauty of the town and the hospitality of the Buenavistahanons which can only be experienced by people if they will travel, trek and tour the province.

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