CEBU
CITY, January 23 (PIA)--- The town of Poro in Camotes Island
successfully held its 20th “Tagbo” Festival.
Other than the “Sinulog” Festival which highlights the feast of
the Santo Nino, Cebu has a lot to offer in the month of January
for domestic and international tourists. In the town of Poro in the
picturesque island of Camotes, located far north, is an equally colorful
and historical festival, the “Tagbo”.
“Tagbo” is the dialect word referring to convergence or
meeting at a certain point. This festival is celebrated every January 16, the
date that Poro was recognized as the first town in the island in the year 1780.
Joy Laja, Poro tourism manager said that long before Sinulog
became a festival, the town had initiated its own simple festival 20 years ago
to relive the rich history the town has to offer not just for its constituents,
fellow Camotes islanders, but for the entire Cebu.
The story of “Tagbo” is all about the literal convergence of two
tribes, the farmers from sitio Tag-anito (now Tudela) and the fishermen from
sitio Mactang (now barangay Esperanza in Poro).
Initially, these two tribes were not friendly towards each other
and both wanted supremacy. However, upon the advise of a wise man named
“Panganuron”, they were convinced to be united in order to fight a common
enemy, the “Moros”.
“By the time they converged, they decided to create a
settlement to unite and named it “Pulo”, the Spaniards must have mispronounced
it into “Poro”, Laja said.
Once united, the tribesmen prayed the Holy Rosary, in honor of the
Virgin Mary until they adapted the little child, the Senior Santo Nino of Poro.
Poro Mayor Luciano Rama Jr. said there are still a lot of stories
that the town can proudly tell. These include popular legend of Maria
Cacao who frequents the recreation spot “Buho Rock”, the church which was
constructed in memory of the last standing Japanese army and even the alleged
area where the real battle of Mactan had happened.
“Cultural and environmental tourism is the direction of the town,”
Rama said.
Santo Nino devotees flocked to the church for the mass and the
“Patunob” ritual wherein the image of the Santo Nino is placed in the parts of
the body where healing is prayed for.
Meanwhile, four contingents competed for the street dancing and
the ritual category. These contingents, according to Laja, are clustered,
in order to push more unity as well as saving on costs.
The over all champion for the ritual category is Hugpong
sa Nagkahiusang Porohanon; first place-Lumad Escaricahanon; 2nd
place –Pundok Panaghiusa and 3rd Place Tribu Panagdait.
This year’s festival queen is Maria Danica Flor Opon still from
the ritual champion Hugpong sa Nagkahiusang Porohanon.
Poro is the first of the four municipalities of Camotes Island.
The island offers a lot of dive sites and caves for exploration. Going to
Camotes from Cebu City is 63 kilometers north until Danao City and a two hour
ship ride. (rmn/fcc/PIA-Cebu)