Kahilwayan Festival – the Cry of Santa Barbara

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KAHILWAYAN FESTIVAL

Photo from: http://www.myiloilo.net/a-historic-list-of-firsts-iloilo-part-1/

Kahilwayan is an Ilonggo term that means freedom or independence and Santa Barbara’s cultural festival depicts the role of the Ilonggos in the historic uprising against Spain.

The town’s Kahilwayan Festival showcases in a dance drama the series of events that led to the open declaration of the revolution in the Visayas that’s now known as the Cry of Santa Barbara.

The raising of the Philippine flag by revolutionary forces led by Gen. Martin T. Delgado in Santa Barbara on November 17, 1898 signalled the start of the rebellion against Spain in the Visayas and Mindanao. It is a testimony of the bravery and heroism of the Ilonggos who openly showed their defiance against Spanish oppressors. So important was the role of this uprising in Philippine history that Santa Barbara was the only municipality outside Luzon that was declared as a National Trunk Site in the Centennial Freedom Trail during the Philippine Centennial Celebration in 1998.

In 2001, the Municipal Government headed by then Mayor Isabelo Maquino launched the Kahilwayan Festival as an innovative way of retelling the story of the Cry of Santa Barbara. It is aimed at catching the attention not only of local folks but foreign tourists as well. Read More: http://santabarbara.myguide.ph/kahilwayan.html

Photo from: http://www.choosephilippines.com/do/festivals/3711/kahilwayan-festival

Kahilwayan it is a cultural festival in a dance-drama from which will showcase the events that led to the historic uprising of the Ilonggos against Spain to its ultimate cry of victory and freedom known to us now as the Cry of Santa Barbara.

To suit with the occasion, the beat of “Marcha Libertador” shall be used as background music at any part of the performance while the raising of the Philippine Flag that symbolizes freedom.

Hence, the storyline shall revolve around the circumstances that led to the first flag raising and cry of triumph in the Visayas region.

The Kahilwayan Festival aims to depict the story of the Cry of Santa Barbara in a manner which can bring more color and meaning to the event itself and to draw the interest not only of the people of Santa Barbara but that of other places as well. This is one major way also to develop the tourism industry of the municipality. Read More: http://greedypeg.org/iloilo/Kahilwayan-Festival.html

Photo from: http://iloilophilippinefestivals.blogspot.com/

The festival commemorates the historic event that sparked a revolution in Visayas and Mindanao during 1898. The event is popularly known as the Cry of Sta. Barbara in our history books. The story is about the patriotism and bravery of Ilonggos in fighting for freedom during the Spanish colonization.

“Kahilwayan” is a Hiligaynon word for “freedom” or “liberty.”

The Kahilwayan Festival is commemorated through a reenactment of the uprising of the Ilonggos against Spain. One of the highlights of the event is the staging of the Cry of Sta. Barbara.

The Kahilwayan Festival stresses on 3 key events that happened during the Cry of Sta. Barbara, which are:

Lt. Honorio Solinap and Tia Patron Gamboa – how they delivered the saber and the Philippine flag from Jaro to Sta. Barbara
Marcha Libertador – the music composed by Posidio Delgado, used as background music
Philippine Flag – the successful hoisting of the country’s flag at Sta. Barbara