Kalamayan Festival: Honoring The Sugarcane Workers And Celebrating The Sugary Heritage!

(Blue skies over Victorias)

Last month, I blogged about Silay City's gastronomic heritage. This time, I am writing about my hometown's own sugary heritage!

Being the home of the Philippines' largest sugar refinery, Victorias City (in Negros Occidental) capitalizes on its reputation as a sweet village on the Negros Island.

And since the City's important historical dates are celebrated in March (Charter Day) and April (religious fiesta), the organizers have earmarked the last two weeks in December to celebrate the Kalamayan Festival.

            (Competitors awaiting their teammates 
                         during the relay)

                  (Sack race bit-bit kalamay!)

                                (Kadang!)

                  (Racing while inside the sack!)

The Kalamayan Festival celebrates the people working in the sugar industry: the sugarcane workers, or 'tapaseros'. 

'Kalamay' means sugar, while 'tapás' means to cut down in Hiligaynon, the language of the western part of Negros Island and the eastern part of the neighboring Panay Island. 

The 'tapaseros' are workers in the sugarcane fields who plant and harvest sugarcane plants, which are then turned into sugar.

      (Contestants for 'pang-os tubo' getting ready 
                     for a tough competition)

                       (The cockfight crowd)

                                (Cockfight!)

The main participants in this festival are the farm workers who compete in the games prepared especially for them: kadang (stilts) race, sack race, relays while carrying sacks of sugar, a sugarcane peeling and munching contest using only one's teeth! The winner is probably the one with the strongest set of teeth! "Katig-a ayhan sang tubo!" The sugarcane is tough!

                        (Pang-os kita tubo!)

(Ang manok ni San Pedro...nga ugis ang balahibo...ang manok ni San Pedro...pustahi kay sigurado...)

                  ("The first rule of Fight Club is: 
               you do not talk about Fight Club".)

I was able to watch the activities of the 2016 Kalamayan Festival, where I saw for myself the fun and enjoyment of the tapaseros and their families.

Aside from the games, there were cockfighting events and an exhibition of tarantulas, rare lizards, Burmese pythons and scorpions at the Victorias Plaza. Thanks to July and Jake of the Bacolod Tarantula Keepers, I had an on-site education about these fascinating creatures. 

(Birdman: The referee's name is Duro and he's a veteran in cockfighting. He judged all the fights of the flightless birds. In this photo, he's raising the winged winner. I wonder if the losing bird is turned into 'tinóla' or chicken soup.)

(The betting game is called 'pula-puti', where the bets are placed on specific squares and a ping-pong dropped through the funnel decides the winner. If the ball settles on your square, you win.)

Also, I was able to watch the dance performances of students from elementary schools in Victorias City. I was especially impressed by the performance and costumes of pupils of a certain group. The competition was won by the Estado Elementary School.

Here are a couple of clips I took:

                                     

                                     

                  (Grade school pupils with their 
        musical instruments and colorful costumes)

So, if you're in the neighborhood of Victorias City in Negros Occidental this month, watch the fun games enjoyed by the 'tapaseros', and attend events of this year's Kalamayan Festival in December.

Also in 2016, as part of the Festival, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra serenaded the Victoriahanons and visitors with Kachaturian and familiar Christmas melodies. The PPO was invited by several cities in Negros Occidental and dropped by Victorias City for a night.

                        (Masquerade Waltz)

                          (Pamasko songs)

                  (Love Yourself by Justin B.)

                             (Sleigh Ride)

"Gabay pa nga mapasidunggan guid ang mga tapaseros kag mga naga-pangabudlay sa kampo sa ini nga Kalamayan Festival!" 🙏

Hopefully, this Kalamayan Festival will be able to give honor to all sugarcane workers as well as their work.🙏