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Cebu

Siloy Festival

Siloy Festival is a cultural, bird, environmental, and religious festival in Alcoy, Cebu, Philippines every August 27. Organized by the local government, it aims to raise awareness of siloy, an endemic bird in Cebu, and strengthen advocacy for the protection of its natural habitats to ensure its survival. The yearly event is also held as a town fiesta in honor of St. Rose of Lima, the patroness of Alcoy.

Siloy Festival is one of the contingents that joins the annual Pasigarbo sa Sugbo every August.

Etymology

Siloy Festival comes from siloy, the local name for black shama. The bird is also the mascot of Cebu Daily News.

Siloy

The island of Cebu was once thickly forested, as the natives in pre-colonial period only cultivated the coastal plains for crops. Since the arrival of the Spaniards, its forests were reduced due to agricultural pressure for the growing of crops introduced from the Americas such as corn, sweet potato, and cassava. Presently, only 0.03% remained of the island’s forest cover and it is scattered in eight woodland patches: Cebu City, Alcoy-Boljoon, Catmon-Carmen, Tuburan, Malabuyoc, Dalaguete, Argao, and Alegria.

Cebu is home to twelve endemic birds, ten of which were once considered extinct. Subsequent researches have since rediscovered several birds, yet their remaining populations are seriously dwindling due to continued human disruption of the environment and deforestation. Among the threatened species are the streak-breasted bulbul (Hypsipetes siquijorensis monticola), Philippine hanging parakeet (Loriculus philippensis chrysonotus), Cebu flowerpecker (Dicaeum quadricolor), and the black shama.

The black shama is known locally as siloy and it is given the scientific name (Copsychus cebuensis, literally meaning Cebuano blackbird). With an avian physical description that is unique among birds found in Cebu, it is medium in size with a long tail. While it is largely black in color, the males can be distinguished by their shiny feathers and the females have ash-like dark plumage with red-brown stomach. It feeds on bugs found in shrubberies under the trees, on the ground, or while in flight. Its birdsong is typified with long stretches of whistling that can be slightly off-key.

For years, siloy was believed to be rare or even extinct. In previous decades, studies of the bird discovered its presence is widely dispersed in over two dozen locations that included urban areas of Metro Cebu and each sighting counted at most five individuals. It is thought that the bird nested in mature forests, but due to deforestation it can also be found in valley bottom, bamboo groves, and plantations.

Considered endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the existing number of siloy continues to be in decline. Its total population is estimated to be up to 3,300. In 2004, a study revealed that a large number of the bird was found in Nug-as Forest in Alcoy, with an estimate of about 2,500 individuals.

Nug-as Forest is the largest forest in Cebu with over 1,000 hectares. Found in the interiors of the municipality of Alcoy, it chiefly consists of lowland and transitional forests in the localities of Nug-as, Atabay, San Agustin, and Poblacion. While it is not a protected site, it is under a community forest management agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and protected by the local community.

History of Siloy Festival

Alcoy’s local government during the term of Antonio Plando launched Siloy Festival in 2005. It was organized after the publication and presentation of a study on black shama carried out between 2003 and 2004 that was funded by Rufford Small Grants for Nature Conservation and Threatened Species Program of the Haribon Foundation, Inc.

The fest was conceptualized to bring to the limelight that Alcoy is the home of the largest population of black shama and the largest forestland in Cebu.

The local legislative council also approved funding for conservation activities with the goal of preserving and protecting the ecosystem and its rich flora and fauna.

Devotion to St. Rose of Lima

Siloy Festival is also a means to show devotion to St. Rose of Lima, the patroness of the town of Alcoy since the Spanish period.

The colonizers instituted a visita (chapel-at-ease) in Mambaje, now presently called Daanlungsod (Old Town) Its matriz was the Parish of Carcar on October 31, 1690 and then of Parish of Boljoon in 1692.

In the 19th century, plans were made to establish Mambaje as a separate town. On July 16, 1866, it was granted a municipal status. Three years later, its name was changed to Alcoy. Then the town center was moved from Mambaje to Hulomaynon, presently called Poblacion.

On September 15, 1890, the church of Alcoy was raised into a parish.

Siloy Festival Activities

In 2024, religious celebrations of Siloy Festival were spearheaded by the religious authorities. Additionally, a search for dancers and Siloy Festival Queen were launched to select the dance contingent and candidate for that year’s Pasigarbo sa Sugbo. A public viewing of the Pasigarbo was also organized.

How to reach Alcoy, Cebu

From Mactan International Airport, take a ride to South Bus Terminal and get on a bus heading to Cebu south that stops at the town terminal or that passes by the town of Alcoy. The trip is about two to three hours long.

References

Siloy Festival Summary

NameSiloy Festival
CelebrationBird, Culture, Environment, Religion
ChurchSanta Rosa de Lima Parish
Contact(032) 483-9183 to 84 / 0942 874 9724
CountryPhilippines
DateAugust 27
Emailalcoy.tourism@gmail.com
Facebookweb.facebook.com
LocationAlcoy, Cebu
OrganizerMunicipal Government of Alcoy
PatronSt. Rose of Lima
ReligionRoman Catholic
Websitealcoycebu.gov.ph