The Religious and Cultural Saad Festival

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SAAD FESTIVAL

Photo from: http://www.iloilo.net.ph/events/saad-festival-leganes-iloilo/

Leganes, Iloilo, celebrates the festivity of St. Vincent Ferrer, the town’s patron saint with the annual Saad Festival celebrated this year on January 24 – 31, 2017. The celebration is one of the most-anticipated folk religious festivals in Iloilo. Parades and parties erupt in the area in his honor. It sees people near and far participating and celebrating.

Saad or ‘Vow,’ is one of the major festivals in Iloilo. It is a mixture of Catholic and ancient local influences. Various religious ceremonies, enthusiasm paralleled with ample fun and celebration marks the festivity adding color and integrity to the municipality. The festival reinforces the presence of God in the life of every Leganesnons, their families and the community as a whole.

The highlight of the festival is the cultural dance presentation which imbues a unique vibrancy. The presentations are dance-dramas likely to show suffering sin or shame other than worship. Folk dance steps are incorporated into the regular worship steps expressing joy in the dance and using a lot of additional arm movements. Traditionally, the arms are often raised up toward the sky, or in front of the body as if reaching out to God. The arms can also be held out to the sides to symbolize Christ, surrender to God, or openness to healing and restoration. Read More: http://mybeautifuliloilo.blogspot.com/2017/01/saad-festival-marking-important.html

Photo from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/iamdencio/sets/72157640659346583/

The festival is primarily a praise and worship presentation that combines Leganes’ folktale with contemporary way of worship to choreographed steps. With pomp and ceremony, the presentations’ focal point is its community life, worship, and identity. This is the moment when art and religion seem merged into one. The entire scene is alive with colors and sounds. Emotions are stirred by the slow rhythmic beating of the music accompanying the processional marches of the sculptured image of their patron saint. With colorful costumes, there is shouting, pausing frequently for prayers and rituals. It is in their hearts that makes the expression real, God-honoring and a blessing. Normally interpretative, dancers use props and processional movements with costumes reflecting God’s holiness and order. They dance for joy to praise their patron saint for his deliverance. Read More: http://www.iloilo.net.ph/events/saad-festival-leganes-iloilo/

Photo from: https://festiveiloilo.wordpress.com/2016/04/01/iloilos-summer-festivals/

Leganes is a town located in the north of Iloilo City celebrates Saad Festival every first week of April. Saad Festival is a grandiose display of Ilonggo faith, a religious fiesta that honors Saint Vincent Ferrer and a colourful showcase of culture and spiritual heritage of Leganes. “Saad,” a Hiligaynon term which means “a vow,” is a festival highlighted by a colourful procession and performance of various competing groups to express their deep devotion to Saint Vincent Ferrer and to call for an abundant life from God. Read More: https://ibpofficial.wordpress.com/2016/04/01/iloilos-summer-festivals/

Photo from: http://terolavt.blogspot.com/2012/04/saad-festival-in-leganes-iloilo-2012.html