Categories: CebuDiscover the PhilippinesVisayas

Lapyahan Festival Highlights Cebu’s Longest White Sand Beach

LAPYAHAN FESTIVAL

Photo from: http://www.peanutbrowas.com/blog/experience-the-lapyahan-festival-of-san-remigio

Colorful props and dancers clad in equally colorful costumes would fill the San Remigio town every 16th of May for the Lapyahan Festival, one of the most awaited activities in relation to the annual fiesta.

The whole town would practically burst with energy as participants from various elementary and high schools converge to celebrate the fiesta in honor of San Juan Nepumoceno.

A long stretch of white sand beach in San Remigio, the longest in the whole Cebu province, is highlighted in this annual festival. The name of the festival itself, “Lapyahan,” is the Cebuano word for seashore or shoreline.

Dance steps in the festival show things related to the sea: balud which means waves, kinhas which means gleaning for seashells during low tide, ligo or langoy which is swimming, hoyohoy which refers to sea breeze, and pasalamat which is to give thanksgiving to heavens for the bounty of the sea.

The sea is so much a part of the lives of San Remigio residents, many of whom earn their living from fishing. Read More: http://sanremigio.gov.ph/listindex.asp?newsid=39&category=tourism&wfunc=viewarticle&rightpanel=yes&titlecap=Lapyahan%20Festival

Photo from: https://gladly-escape.blogspot.com/2016/05/lapyahan-festival-queen-2016.html

The island of Cebu has its share of festivals with the biggest and grandest one being held every third Sunday of January. Even as the Sinulog Festival is the most popular festival in the island, the different cities and towns also have their own festivals in honor of their respective patron saints. The northern town of San Remigio celebrates the Lapyahan Festival in honor of San Juan Nepomuceno.

San Remigio is home to the longest shoreline in the island of Cebu. It features white sand beaches that can rival the best in the country. The old name of the town is “Kanhagas,” which is the name of a tree that is abundant in the area. It was once a part of Bantayan before it became a town. The town came under the spiritual administration of Bogo when Bogo became a parish. It officially became a town in November 21, 1863.

The word “lapyahan” is Cebuano for shoreline or seashore. The Lapyahan Festival highlights one of the features of the town of San Remigio, its long shoreline. It symbolizes development and progress of the town. It also served as a venue where residents posted guards against Moro raiders. Read More: http://www.peanutbrowas.com/blog/experience-the-lapyahan-festival-of-san-remigio

Photo from: http://www.choosephilippines.com/do/festivals/4218/visayas-may-festivals

Every May 16th, the municipality of San Remigio celebrates the Lapyahan Festival together with their town fiesta.

The word “Lapyahan” means here shore and describes the unique feature of San Remigio, the longest shoreline in the province of Cebu with these wonderful white beaches, impressing even foreign visitors as local guests.

The theme of the Lapyahan Festival in San Remigio is a combination of the history of this town and the beauty of their shores. The ritual dance symbolizing the beginning of the Spanish era, to the Japanese occupation, to American regime till the independence of San Remigio. Read More: https://www.philippinen-reisen.com/amain-en/index.php/places/cebu/san-remigio/