Dapitan City Celebrates Hudyaka sa Pag-Handuraw

The 7th year celebration of Hudyaka sa Pag-Handuraw

(Recalling of the joyous past) in Dapitan City

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Dec. 31 (PNA) -- The 7th year celebration of Handuraw (Reminiscing) in Dapitan City ended Monday.

On December 28–30, 2006, the city government of Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte, held the first Handuraw Festival in part as culmination of the 110th death anniversary of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal in 2006. The festival was held every year to promote Dapitan and Jose Rizal's work. Dapitan was also the last stop of the touring exhibition, "Rizal-Blumentritt" of which the Czech Embassy promoted the role of Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt in Rizal's life. The three-day festival would always feature a number of activities and competitions which pertains to Rizal's versatility as a person.

But this year, the city government held Handuraw in Barangay Ilaya, Dapitan City in affirmation of Ilaya's role in the history of Dapitan City. Handuraw would not only give credence to Dr. Jose Rizal but to all the prominent personalities way back in the 1500's when Dapitan can already be seen in the Philippine map. It will going to be a much more joyous event where the academe, athletes, historians and the likes converge, City Tourism Officer Apple Marie Agolong said.

Dapitan City Mayor Rosalina Jalosjos wearing white

had fellowship with some City officials and Employees

during the opening of Hudyaka sa pag Handuraw.

The opening program for this year’s celebration started with a mass followed by the opening of the booths representing the eight Subanen tribes during a simple program.

The eight tribes of the Subanen were identified through the representation by barangays such as Yabu Tribe, Suminod Tribe, Limones Tribe, Gomoray Tribe, Eknan Tribe, Miyalen Tribe, Tapalon Tribe and Andapon Tribe.

Fr. Elmer Jamarolin, who officiated the mass, was very thankful since this year’s celebration affirmed the significance of Barangay Ilaya in the history of Dapitan City, being one of the first settlements of the Dapitanons.

Dapitan City Mayor Rosalina Jalosjos, the keynote speaker in the closing ceremony Monday, said Dapitan City has rich historical background that the people from other places should know aside from being the exile place of the country’s National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.

“Dapitan City is known where our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, was exiled but we have a lot more tell about our city as a rich of historical background that need us to inform the people through celebration like the Hudyaka sa Pag-Handuraw,” Jalosjos said.

Other events such as Pasko sa Nayon, LGU Night during the Kasadya sa Gloria and Essay Writing Contest were held on the occasion of Handuraw 2013..(PNA)
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