Celebrating Fishing and Farming in Valladolid

Summertime has just began, feeling the heat of the sun, as the wind blows along the streets of Valladolid. The boulevard is filled with people this day, fishermen row their boats for the annual paraw regatta, plus motorized boats compete along the coast of the town where the fastest will be victorious. 

A simple town where the residents engage in fishing and farming. This is where you get to buy sweet mangoes from Guimaras, root crops, chicken, ducks and red eggs also known as salted eggs. Valladolid is the second largest town in terms of producing rice, next to its neighboring city - Bago, south of Bacolod.

Fishing is a way of life in the town, a fourth class municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, shell fish is abundant in the town with angel wings locally known as diwal, a mouthwatering high prized and seasonal clam which thrives in the clean waters  along the shores of Bago, Pulupandan, Valladolid and San Enrique. 

The day is special as they celebrate the 164th Town Fiesta and the Pasundayag Festival 2015. The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the town’s patron stands in the middle of the stage at the plaza,  the traditional crowning of Our lady of Guadalupe was done by no less than Mayor Romel P. Yogore and Vice Mayor Enrique Miravalles.

 

Board Member Victor V. Javellana and Executive Assistant to the Vice Governor Francis Velez came to the town to show the support of the provincial government in the celebration of the town fiesta.

Theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Ugyon Dolidnon, Pasundayag Festival Saulugon sa Pagpasalamat Sang Progreso nga naangkon.’ Indeed, like any other town fiesta, activities kept the residents busy from the fluvial parade, garden show, sports events, a cock derby, drum and lyre presentation, motorcross and  bike racing, hog raisers day, wow carabao , paraw regatta, fireworks display . Highlight of the celebration is the Pasundayag Festival dance parade and grand arena competition, a folkloric dance based on the concept of local traditions showcasing the means of living of every ‘Dolidnon’ like fishing and farming interpreted in a dance. The costumes worn by the performers was a combination of indigenous materials like shells, rice, corn and anything abundant in the town and ‘patadjong’ or plaids in colorful patterns representing Visayans. 

 

There were seven tribes representing clusters of barangays like ALIDOBAY, CENBAC, MAPALAK, POBLALOMA, BAGUIN-AY, PERSAGUA AND PA-CARON, judges were Gerry Grey, Butch Gerasmo, Wilma Sugaton and Zhone Cabuenos. The residents and visitors flocked on the main street on a national highway under the shade of acacia trees to watch the street dancing competition.  The festival dance was a success with the cooperation of Dep. Ed, the 16 Barangays and hardworking municipal employees. Pasundayag sa Valladolid is the biggest party in town and reminds us that summertime has just began, for your travels to the south drop by at the boulevard, shop for mangoes and melons, say a little prayer at the century old Valladolid Church or simply walk in the park and have fun under the sun, shaded with about 31 acacia trees as it blooms with pink flowers.