“Hudyaka sa Abatan 2019”

Sandugo cultural side-dish

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, July 16, (PIA)—Abatan, in its efforts to generate support for local community based creative industries, offers itself as a flea market of culture, artistic talents in cultural performances and heritage education with the best of Bohol’s six towns on the spotlights at Hudyaka sa Abatan 2019 in time for the Sandugo season.  

The majesty of lit mangroves form the fitting backdrop for the festivity celebrating pride of place and the creative genius of the people living in the riverside communities of Cortes, Maribojoc, Antequera, Balilihan, Catigbian, and Loon who have seen culture as a tool for community development.

Assited by non-government organization specializing in community development called Participatory Research, Organization of Communities and Education towards the Struggle for Self-reliance (PROCESS)-Bohol, a community development specialist, Abatan communities underwent two program phases: Bol-anong Kabilin Atong Gibahandi (BOKAG) with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in partnership with Bohol Provincial Government and the six local government units and now, on the marketing phase, with another NGO facilitation.

Assisting Abatan now is Bol-anon United Sectors for the Advancement of Community Concerns (BUSWACC) to foster foster environmental preservation, revitalization, and kick-starting the local creative economy.

This time, when things have ripened, now comes Hudyaka sa Abatan 2019, reiteration of the Abatan River Development Management Council vision of a sustainable management of the Abatan river

Like how they shared the river resources, six towns float down their creative re-introduction of the vanishing or forgotten local history, culture, life ways, struggles, and visions, as curated and directed by NCCA Consultant for the Visayas Gardy Labad.

Himself the founding artistic director of Kasing Sining Teatro Bol-anon and the Aesthetic and Pedagogy Director of the Bohol Arts and Cultural Heritage (BACH) Institute, Hudyaka the show features a classic Philippine dance ritual dating back Pre Spanish times: pangalay.

Pangalay’s trademark hand and foot movement patterns suggest the rhythm, texture, sites and sounds of the country’s marine environment and its usage has functionality for both secular and spiritual purposes. Reintroduced to Maribojoc Cultural Collective by Ramon Magsaysay Heritage Awardee for the preservation of the Pangalay, Ligaya Amilbangsa, pangalay would be interpreted at Hudyaka by Maribojoc-Artist-Leader Gerardo Calle Jr.

Lincod Cultural Collective of Maribojoc stages Panginabuhi sa Suba sa Abatan. The life and struggles of fishermen and nipa growers in the Abatan River are captured in this short drama improvisational and dance piece first performed for Abatan Lincod Mangro Growers Organization (ALIMANGO) the group which lives by the river is also its staunchest protectors.

Up from Balilihan in the headwaters of Abatan is Dorol Elementary School Flute and Guitar Ensemble sharing their Mga Huni sa Kasadya to the people in the lowlands.

From Loon whose ridges form many tributaries of Abatan is a mambabalak whose piece Suwaki sa Kainggit inundates in rhythm and colorful language, sensuous and animated imagery, its play of rhymes and wit are all indicative of the charm, intelligence, and creativity of the local Boholano poet-artist Jude Henrick dos Pueblos.

From the basket capital town upriver, the Antequera Cultural Collective weaves Dalit sa Kahanas, a created festival basket dance affirming the town as Bohol’s craftsmanship of this hand-woven product. The collective also keeps in its repertoire, a musical on the Boholano hero Tamblot.

Then, Kasing Sining Teatro Bol-anon Ensemble’s finds a new way to express Usahay, one of the most- liked Cebuano love songs, in modernist drama and dance, with the fusion of sentiments and movement, of body and emotion, of the physical and the aesthetic.

Taking Hudyaka’s centerpiece is Wadji, Ang Diwatang Bayani sa Suba sa Abatan of the Cortes Cultural Collective.

Set in Pre-Hispanic Bohol circa 1500s, Wadji details the sorrow and the exploit of a woman leader who would be hoisted by circumstance top defend her land and people, from pirates marauders to conquistadores to keep them off her small turf.

Complementing Wadji’s historic feat is Sayaw sa Kadaugan ni Dagohoy performed by Kasing Sining Teatro Bol-anon Ensemble.

Capping the night show would be a blast of Kuradang, with Loon Cultural Ensemble engages everyone in the revelry of the glorious celebration of community, culture, brotherhood, and pride of place.

Show tickets are at P 300.00 (performance only), P 600.00 (performance with dinner) and P 1,000.00 (performance with dinner and tour of the firefly habitat).

For ticket reservations and inquiries, contact the BUSWACC through (038) 501 2425 or see posters and print ads at local hotels and resorts. (PIABOHOL)

ABATAN CULTURAL COLLECTIVES. Cultural performing groups retell their communities’ stories, culture, traditions and histories as they attempt to advance culture and arts and environment conservation and preservation as tools for development in Hudyaka sa Abatan, to be staged at the Abatan main Village Center starting Monday to July 25. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)