Bonga Festival – Thanksgiving for Bountiful Harvest

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BONGA FESTIVAL

Photo from: https://allevents.in/events/bonga-festival-2016/1626446001000461

The term ‘bonga’ is a transliteration of the English word for fruit, or ‘harvest’ for a wider meaning. This harvest festival is annually celebrated on October 12.

Bonga Festival is a lively thanksgiving celebration for the abundance of the town’s natural and food resources. This festival coincides with the celebration in honor of the town’s patron saints – St. Felomena and Our Lady of Pilar. Dressed and adorned with colorful and various costumes, the street dancers and performers gladly promote the town’s produce and native products.
Musicians of all ages play musical instruments, beat the drums and some groups perform the rondalla string ensembles, which usually includes guitars, bass (bajo), and banduria. Read More: http://www.cebu-bluewaters.com/bonga-festival.html

Photo from: http://www.cebu.gov.ph/news/sibonga-celebrates-bounty-blessings-annual-festival/

The Bonga Festival of Sibonga is a thanksgiving celebration among residents of the town for the blessings they received in the past year. The town also celebrates the abundance of the food and other resources

in the town. The festival is also held in honor of the patron saints of the town, St. Filomena and Our Lady of Pilar. It also falls on the feast day of its patron saints, August 9. The term “bonga” is the Cebuano word for fruit or harvest. The festival originated from the time of the Spaniards when each town celebrated the feast day of their patron saints. A solemn parade is typically held on the feast day of the patron saints. Read More: http://www.peanutbrowas.com/blog/experience-the-bonga-festival-of-sibonga

Photo from: https://geographicallychallenged.wordpress.com/2009/08/22/pasigarbo-sa-sugbo-august-15-2009/s6303533/

The municipality of Sibonga stages the Bonga Festival every Aug. 9 as one of the major highlights of the town’s fiesta celebration in honor of their patron saints, Our Lady of Pilar and Santa Filomena.

The Sibonga residents celebrated the bounty of the land through a spectacular performance by secondary school students in vibrant costumes showing intricate and creative dance steps with chants that highlight their colorful past while winding along the streets of the town in time with the thunderous rhythm of drums and other instruments.

Agriculture is the main source of income among Sibonganons. In fact, the town is one of the major suppliers of different fruits in the province of Cebu. Mango, banana and grapes are some of its major products. Read More: http://www.cebu.gov.ph/news/sibonga-celebrates-bounty-blessings-annual-festival/

Photo from: http://candaguitchapelyouthorganization.weebly.com/