Isda Festival is a cultural, sea, and religious festival in the town of Madridejos, Cebu, Philippines every December 8. It is a celebration of town’s fisher folks, culture, and expression of gratitude for the bountiful sea harvest as well as an expression of faith through honoring the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
The festival includes vibrant parades and various events that honor the sea creatures and marine animals that thrive in the local waters, and it also gained recognition, winning 3rd place in the 2012 Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival of Festivals.
Etymology
The word “Isda” in Isda Festival means “fish” in Filipino. The festival is named after “Isda” to celebrate the abundance of fish and marine life in the seas which is the main livelihood of the people in the area.
History of Isda Festival
The festival has grown to become an important cultural event in the town since its inception. It serves as a thanksgiving for the bountiful marine resources that sustain the livelihoods of the people in Madridejos. The people of Madridejos are deeply connected to the sea, and the festival is a way for them to showcase their appreciation for the natural resources that sustain them.
The parade features contingents from different barangays (villages) dressed in costumes and carrying props that represent sea creatures, including fish, turtles, and other marine animals. These costumes showcase the town’s connection to the sea and its vital role in the local economy.
In addition to the parade, the festival includes a variety of activities, such as a festival showdown competition. This event features the competing barangays, where they display their creativity and artistic talents in the form of dance and costumes that depict marine life.
The Isda Festival has not only become a symbol of Madridejos’ marine bounty but also a celebration of community pride. Over the years, the festival has grown in importance, drawing visitors from other parts of Cebu and even beyond.
Devotion to Immaculate Conception
Isda Festival is celebrated every December 8, aligning with the feast day of the town’s patroness, the Lady of the Immaculate Conception.
Christianization of Madridejos began with the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores. The town’s history dates back to pre-Hispanic times when it was known as “Lawis,” meaning “peninsula.” The area was originally a quiet and uninhabited region, covered with small shrubs and lantana.
It is believed that a fisherman named Lazaro Mangubat was the first to discover the area and later became the founder of Lawis. He fortified the area against seaborne invaders and helped establish the first church, the ruins of which still exist today.
During the period of Spanish colonization, Lawis was frequently attacked by the Moros, who would raid coastal towns. To defend the people from these attacks, Lazaro Mangubat built a fort in 1630 and established a watchtower in the nearby barrio of Kaongkod, where signals could be sent to warn the townsfolk of an approaching attack. The town’s strategic location on the northern tip of Bantayan Island made it vulnerable to these invasions, especially in the 1840s, when Moro raids were at their worst. Despite these challenges, the people of Lawis continued to thrive, and the area gradually gained recognition as a thriving settlement.
From Lawis, the town was renamed to what it is known today through the initiative of Bishop Benito Romero of Madridejos, the bishop of Cebu from 1867 to 1885.
In 1917, Lawis was officially made into a town. This change marked an important shift for the area, as it was finally recognized as an independent municipality. The town’s establishment was the result of efforts by Fr. Juan Alcoseba, who sought to create a viable governance structure for the area. However, Madridejos initially struggled with financial viability and had to join with Bantayan for some time before it became a fully independent municipality on June 2, 1917.
The church, dedicated to the patroness, used to be part of the jurisdiction of Bantayan Parish. It became a parish on March 1, 1928, and the present-day house of worship was completed on October 18, 1961.
References
- Gregg M. Rubio and Kristine B. Quintas. Madridejos town celebrates Isda Festival. The Freeman. December 9, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2024
- Culture. Municipality of Madridejos. Retrieved November 18, 2024
- Our history. Municipality of Madridejos. Retrieved November 18, 2024
- Isda Festival 2012- Madridejos, Cebu. Madridejos. Retrieved January 6, 2025
- Isda Festival 2012- Madridejos, Cebu. Pasigarbo sa Sugbo. Cebu Provincial Government. Retrieved January 6, 2025
Isda Festival Summary
Name Isda Festival Celebration Culture, Fish, Religion Church Immaculate Conception Parish Contact 0999 664 2222 Country Philippines Date December 8 Email mpio@madridejoscebu.gov.ph Facebook www.facebook.com Location Madridejos, Cebu Organizer Local Government of Madridejos Patron Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Religion Roman Catholic Website madridejoscebu.gov.ph
| Name | Isda Festival |
|---|---|
| Celebration | Culture, Fish, Religion |
| Church | Immaculate Conception Parish |
| Contact | 0999 664 2222 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Date | December 8 |
| mpio@madridejoscebu.gov.ph | |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Location | Madridejos, Cebu |
| Organizer | Local Government of Madridejos |
| Patron | Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Website | madridejoscebu.gov.ph |