Pamuhuan Festival, also referred to as Pinamuohan Festival is the town-wide cultural and religious celebration in Pinamungajan, Cebu, Philippines every May 4. It is timed to coincide with the fiesta of St. Monica, the patron of the town.
It is one of the cultural fests that joins the yearly Pasigarbo sa Sugbo of the Cebu Provincial Government every August.
Etymology
Pamuhuan Festival comes from pamuhuan, which is also the origin of the name of the town. It may mean either share of a worker in a farm harvest or after betel fruit that was called bunga.
History of Pamuhuan Festival
Pamuhuan Festival was launched within the term of Mayor Geraldine Yapha in 2008. Its festival director was Val Sandiego of Sandiego Dance Company.
It was created by the municipal government as a response to the Cebu Provincial Government’s initiative that encouraged the creation of festivals as an expression and promotion of the town’s culture, identity, history, and tradition.
It has grown to become an annual event that is a “vehicle for camaraderie and unity among its people” and a “showcase of our past, present and future as we celebrate the abundance of nature for Pinamungajan’s progress.”
The annual fest also gives a toast to agriculture and is also a platform for thanksgiving as well as a proud display of the town’s products, namely coconut and bangus (milkfish). Pinamungajan is one of the leading producers of bangus in Cebu province.
It has also become an avenue to exhibit the town’s many tourist attractions such as Campalabo Island, spelunking, waterfalls in Lamac, and rice hills.
Devotion to St. Monica
Pamuhuan Festival is also the time to show devotion through the fiesta of St. Monica, the patron of the town. Augustinian missionaries erected the church as a visita of Barili, one of the first parishes created at the start of the conquest.
It was created into an independent parish on September 4, 1850 and Fr. Feliciano Fuentes was assigned as its first parish priest. The stone church was created in the latter part of the 19th century, and the present-day church is the result of many improvements through the years.
Pamuhuan Festival Activities
Activities for Pamuhuan Festival includes beauty pageant (Miss Pinamungajan Tourism, Search for Ginoong Pinamungajan), various sports events, food market, performing arts, variety shows, cultural presentations, etc
How to reach Pinamungajan, Cebu
From Mactan International Airport, go to South Bus Terminal and take a bus to Pinamungajan.
References
- Junel Joe Gato. Pinamungajan to celebrate Pamuhuan Fest. The Philippine Star. April 30, 2008. Retrieved May 9, 2024
- Pinamuohan Festival. Municipal Government of Pinamungajan. Retrieved May 9, 2024
- Pinamuohan Festival. Cebu Provincial Tourism Office. April 10, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2024
- Jiolito Luzano Benitez. Historicity of City and Town Names in the Province of Cebu. CNU Journal of Higher Education. Volume 11, pages 1 – 12. 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2024
- Balaanong Bahandi: Sacred Treasures of the Archdiocese of Cebu. Cathedral Museum of Cebu, Inc. and University of San Carlos Press. 2010. ISBN 978-9715390187. Retrieved May 9, 2024
- Santa Monica Parish Church. Municipality of Pinamungajan, GOV.PH. Retrieved May 9, 2024
Pamuhuan Festival Summary
Name Pamuhuan Festival Church Santa Monica Parish Contact (032) 468-9319 Country Philippines Date May 4 Email lgu_pinamungajan@yahoo.com.ph Facebook www.facebook.com Founder Geraldine Yapha Location Pinamungajan, Cebu Organizer Municipal Government of Pinamungajan Patron St. Monica Religion Roman Catholic Website www.pinamungajan.gov.ph
| Name | Pamuhuan Festival |
|---|---|
| Church | Santa Monica Parish |
| Contact | (032) 468-9319 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Date | May 4 |
| lgu_pinamungajan@yahoo.com.ph | |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Founder | Geraldine Yapha |
| Location | Pinamungajan, Cebu |
| Organizer | Municipal Government of Pinamungajan |
| Patron | St. Monica |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Website | www.pinamungajan.gov.ph |