Sanggi Festival is a harvest and religious festival in the town of Tabogon, Cebu, Philippines every May 20. It celebrates agriculture which is one of the main sources of livelihood of the people in Tabogon. Its schedule is also held in conjunction with the feast of the town’s patron, St. Isidore the Laborer.
It is one of the cultural fests that is part of the annual Pasigarbo sa Sugbo every August.
Etymology
Sanggi Festival comes from sanggi, a word in Cebuano language that means harvest.
History of Sanggi Festival
Sanggi Festival was launched within the tenure of Mayor Eusebio Dungog in 2013. It replaced Pausbaw Festival, with the word pausbaw meaning progress and short for pagpalambo sa mag-uuma uban sa kabaw with rough English translation “progress for farmers with carabao / water buffalo”.
Both festivals pay homage to agriculture, one of the key drivers of the local economy of the town of Tabogon, the invaluable contribution of farmers, the importance of carabao in farm work, and production of corn which is one of the town’s main crops. Its cultural dance is inflected with the movements that recall the work out in the farm: pugas (sowing), sanggi (harvest), pasalamat (thanksgiving), and hikay (feast or banquet).
The annual fest was put on hold at the height of Covid-19 pandemic. In 2023, it was re-staged and Sanggi Festival was restored as the town-wide celebration during the term of Mayor Francis Salimbangon with the goal “…to reintroduce the culture and tradition to the younger generation.”
Devotion to St. Isidore the Laborer
The devotion to St. Isidore the Laborer, locally known as San Isidro Labrador, was introduced by the Augustinian missionaries in the colonial era.
In the past, the name of the town was Agoho for it was called after a tree. The Spaniards renamed it Tabogon, which is to drive away, for it was deemed a place of refuge when its people defended the town from Moro pirates.
The Augustinians built the church as a visita of Sogod Parish. It was raised into a parish on August 6, 1851.
How to reach Tabogon, Cebu
From Mactan International Airport, take a ride to North Bus Terminal and get on a bus going to Tabogon.
References
- Tabogon revives Sanggi Festival. Sunstar. May 24, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 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 6, 2024
- Elizaga, Troy. The Formation of Towns and Parishes in Cebu, Philippines. Retrieved May 6, 2024
- Dampios, Saison Jr (July 3, 2016). Tabogon. The Freeman. Retrieved May 6, 2024
- Annual Town Fiesta of the Municipality of Tabogon. Presidential Broadcast Staff – Radio Television Malacañang, GOV.PH. May 20, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2024
Sanggi Festival Summary
Name Sanggi Festival Celebration Agriculture, Corn, Culture, Harvest, Religion Church San Isidro Labrador Parish Contact (032) 433 9041 Country Philippines Email Municipalityoftabogon@gmail.com Established 2013 Facebook web.facebook.com Founder Eusebio Dungog Location Tabogon, Cebu Organizer Tabogon LGU Patron St. Isidore the Laborer Religion Roman Catholic
| Name | Sanggi Festival |
|---|---|
| Celebration | Agriculture, Corn, Culture, Harvest, Religion |
| Church | San Isidro Labrador Parish |
| Contact | (032) 433 9041 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Municipalityoftabogon@gmail.com | |
| Established | 2013 |
| web.facebook.com | |
| Founder | Eusebio Dungog |
| Location | Tabogon, Cebu |
| Organizer | Tabogon LGU |
| Patron | St. Isidore the Laborer |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |