By Rey Anthony Chiu
Philippine News Agency
Catigbian’S promotion as Bohol’s progress hub gets a new carrier, a Katigbawan Festival saddled, to make the ride to development smooth.
Still pitching for more as Catigbian slowly carves a name as one of Bohol’s fastest emerging giants, local leaders agree that the town civil festival has done what the town could do in months.
And as Catigbian strings the welcome banners this June 13-17, local officials led by Mayor Roberto Salinas bared that this year’s Katigbawan would be adopting the festival as “Tinubdan sa Catigbianong Kahiusahan ug Kaugmaran†as a tribute to the event and the people.
All through the years, Katigbawan has manifested itself as a very potent tool for our telling the whole world that there is something good happening in Catigbian, Salinas said.
Katigbawan, coined after Katigbi, Tigbaw and Kabawan is a festival of culture and tradition conceived by the town leadership as tool for promotions in tourism, ecology, agriculture, folk beliefs and natural environment.
It has also been referred to progress, a name the town leaders suggest for adoption by local residents.
Katigbawan is now harnessed to showcase the whole image of a struggling town and slowly winning its battles, Salinas, a retired navy captain revealed.
This year’s Katigbawan brings in the best of Catigbian: agricultural products at the agri-fair, Katigbi crafts at the crafts fair, best athletes in boxing, basketball, and traditional games, best fighting cocks in the traditional Carambola derby, best livestock and carabaos in the recently popularized Carabao pageant, best dancers in the street dancing competitions, best amateur singers in the musical competitions and the best ladies in the search for Miss Katigbawan 2008.
The festival officially starts June 13 with the thanksgiving mass at the Immaculate Conception Church at 8:00 followed by a parade from the church to the Catigbian Livestock and Auction Center, festival organizers said.
At the CLAC, the opening of the Agri fair and the Onte-Town-One Product (OTOP) fair officially starts with the ribbon cutting ceremonies in the presence of town and Department of Trade and Industry officials.
Expected to be displayed are Katigbi crafts. Barangay delegations are accordingly putting up displays for an inter-barangay contest, said Dr. Ronald Pumatong, event coordinator.
A volleyball game is also an event filler at the CLAC compound while the people are awaiting for the formal ceremonies.
Boxing hostilities take the center arena at the CLAC at 1:00 PM and extends until the next activity set at 5:00 with the Miss Katigbawan Talent Show to unfold at the Catigbian Business Center.
Music and entertainment extends until about 9:00 when the inter-barangay amateur singing competition picks up at the same venue.
June 16 is Katigbawan’s Livestock Day at the CLAC and Provincial veterinarian authorities would be dispensing technical help along with local livestock growers. At the same time, the Municipal Demo Farm opens its gates for technical advice and seedling dispersal to interested residents and guests.
Simultaneously, at 9:00, the famous Karambola unleashes gaffs at the town cockpit arena.
Activity shifts to the CLAC at 1:00 where the best decorated and made-up carabaos take the ramp in Bohol’s Carabao pageant.
Laughter is sure to spill with the traditional Hog Catching also at the CLAC after the Carabao Pageant.
At 3:00, another activity takes the courts of Catigbian Community Stage where an exhibition game tips off with the local law enforcers tackling the local members of the Association of Barangay Councils.
At 7:00, the night curtains open for the Miss Katigbawan pageant night presentation at the CBAC.
The following day, June 17 Tuesday, opens with the blood letting and blood sugar determination with the local medical professionals and volunteers at the CBAC. At the same time, traditional games are set to unroll at the sports oval.
Throbs of the drums and the tempo of dancing feet gather everyone to the Catigbian Sports Oval at 1:00 PM for the annual festival street dancing competitions.
The festival’s closing ceremonies and awarding of winners is set Tuesday at 5:00 at the oval.
Revelers are also treated to a grand fireworks display at the oval and later, a dinner for all and dance party at the CBAC, organizers reveal.
Over all these developments, Mayor Salinas bared, “it is not just the local government showing the world the good news.â€
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