Surigao's Fiesta Season

Surigao City has one of the week-long festivity in the country that runs for two weeks and starts from the Charter Day Celebration every August 31. From end of August, activities are lined up commencing from the Float Parade participated by the different sectors up to the Alumni Homecoming events that stretches even on the post-fiesta days.

Like what i have listed here...

Simple yet elegant designs of floats add color to the Charter Day celebration of Surigao. In the earlier days, Drum and Lyre Corp competition used to be held during this event. So still hope to witness another drum and lyre competition to be conducted next year when the construction of the multi-million funded oval field and gym is done.

Another activity is the Tilaw sa Pagkaong Surigao (A taste of the Surigaonon Food), a food festival showcasing the talents of local chefs in Cooking Show Competition as well as creativeness of the students in the Table Setting and Skirting and Cocktail Competition for.

A Community Night is also conducted not only for nightly entertainment but to foster solidarity among the different sectors of the city ranging from the civil society organizations, NGOs, up to the mining and banking sector by gathering them in one venue and celebrate the good times. Community Nights are held by sector on the nights before the pre-fiesta.

On the 9th of September, Surigao's pre-fiesta day, the Bonok-Bonok Marajaw Karajaw Festival is usually held showcasing the tribal history through the graceful street dances paired with the colorful costumes of participants. This event is one of the anticipated activities in town.

Then on the fiesta day, September 10, several events are hosted in the Luneta Park Plaza for the pleasure of the visitors that includes balikbayans and some foreigners. The organizers call it Pabibo Sa Pyesta, sponsored by the Barbers clan.

One entertaining event is the Tuhog-tuhog Nan Dagum (Thread and Needle Shooting) Competition for the aged groups. Imagine how hard for them to shoot the thread on the hole of the needle with their blurry vision and shaky hands.

Then the Lumba Inom Tuba (Palm Wine Drinking Contest) participated by the drunkards in town. Look how they managed to consume the 2-galloon of palm wine...

..and how their fellow contenders laughed at each other when they seem to vomit the wine they've overdrunk.

And there was this Jagan Paatras (1 km. Reverse Running Contest) which is quite hard to do.

The last activity for the day was the Pasayan (Shrimp) Festival celebrating the abundance of the shrimps in the locality.

They are cooked in different ways and given to the audience after.

And on the 12th of September, my alma mater called for an Alumni Homecoming which i participated for the first time. Compared to the attendance of every batches that jampacked the venue, we quite gathered a good number.

Here we are... the SNNHS Batch 98.

...marched on the presentation of batches

...settled in a bar thereafter

...and when drunk, danced and enjoyed the night.

For 3 days i have experienced how to live without a phone. And i must say, it was a peaceful one. My phone was pickpocketed while i was busy taking pictures of the Palm-Wine Drinking Contest. Aside from that frustrating happening, it was still a very memorable fiesta celebration for me.