Paiburong Festival A new celebration remembers old traditions

According to Erlyn Alunan, tourism officer, ''The Paiburong Festival was

launched last year by Mayor Sebastian Serapio to instill in the minds of the

youth and the current generation of San Joaquiñons their history or lineage

that dates back to the early Bornean times. We are the descendants of the

great Datu Paiburong who was once the ruler of the Ilonggo nation.''

History tells of 10 datus who arrived in the Philippines from Borneo centuries ago.

They exchanged their gold for the plains and valleys of the Panay Island, which was

then occupied by the native Atis. Datu Paiburong was given the territory of

Irong-Irong, now known as Iloilo. The historic barter happened at the Imbidayan Rock,

which is currently located at Barangay Sinugbuan.

Three hundred years before the arrival of the Spaniards in 1521, islanders lived in

peace and prosperity under Datu Paiburong’s rule. The Atis moved to the mountains

and lived there as hunters.

The first day of the fiesta starts with Mass at the 140-year old San Joaquin Church.

Being one of the oldest Spanish settlements in Visayas, the church is also one of the

earliest basilicas in the region. It is the only church in this part of the world with a

militaristic base relief carved on its coral stone façade. It depicts the battle between

the Moors of Tetuan and the Christians. The carving was done by Fray Tomas

Santarin, an Agustinian friar who also built the church in 1859.

At the same time as the church was erected, a Campo Santo was built in the town

cemetery. San Joaquiñons are particularly proud of this landmark for its uniqueness

and historical value. Built in the mid-18th century, the Campo Santo was made of

coral stones, rosettes and red bricks. Its striking built dominates the entire municipal

cemetery.

In commemoration of their Malay ancestry, San Joaquiñons arrange activities for the

festival according to their tradition. During the first day, government employes dress

in Malay-design costumes and parade down the streets with decorated floats. The

march starts in the town’s only oval stadium continues to the streets of the town and

before noon, ends back in the stadium where revelers demonstrate their versions of

the Dinapay.

“In the old days, the folks from the hinterlands would go down and demonstrate their

art of Dinapay, a Bornean war dance. During the barter of the 10 Bornean datus, the

Atis performed a dance, which is now considered the origin of the ati-atihan. On the

other hand, the Borneans showed their dancing prowess using spears and bolos. They

showed this dance and it evolved into a ritual wherein it became a part of the rites of

passage of the early San Joaquiñons,” Alunan explained.

The highlight of the Paiburong Festival happens on the second day of the festival,

when the townsfolk hold a centuries-old tradition, the Pasungay.

“Pasungay in San Joaquin started as a hillside sport of the farmers in the rural areas.

After a hard day’s work, they would go down the hill and pit their bulls with each

other to find which among their bulls is the strongest and the bravest. This has been

a part of our tradition. Every time there is a fiesta in the barangays, there will always

be bullfights,” said Alunan.

“San Joaquin is an agricultural area and we have a thriving cattle industry. Our main

source of income is raising cattle. But we don’t use bulls to work in the fields.

Instead, we use carabaos. The bulls are actually groomed just to fight, “ she added.

In this year’s competition, there were twelve entries in the Pasungay, each with three

fighting bulls. A game usually lasts for fifteen minutes, with bulls jousting each other.

A bull wins after it succeeds in making the other bull run away from the fight.

Most of the bull owners are veteran competitors. Year after year, they join the game

to win the prize money, ranging from P1,500 to P3,000, that they all place in the pot.

In the early years of the bullfight competition, participants used carabaos, but later

on switched to bulls. The smaller horns of the bull make the fight more challenging and

less dangerous. After the bullfights, it is the turn of the horses to take center stage,

battling over the affection of the female horse.

With its colorful history and people’s warm hospitality, San Joaquin is a most welcome

addition to the island of Panay’s tourist destinations.