By Toots Jimenez, Jr.
While Bacolod City’s MassKara Festival, founded in 1980, is held every October, Western Visayas towns and cities hold the Feast of the Child Jesus, Sto. Niño, in January.
This month, there will be a line of festivities honoring the Child Jesus.
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The most prominent of all and a celebration for more than a century already is Kalibo, Aklan’s Ati-Atihan Festival, which brings thousands of devotees to Kalibo, giving thanks for the graces they have received from the Child Jesus.
Those devotees were either healed of their sickness or granted their wishes through close devotion to the image.
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Another is Cebu’s Sinulog Festival in Central Visayas, where more than a million are said to join the commemoration in that city, as the image of Sto. Niño is visited by hundreds and even thousands of devotees daily.
Sinulog has remained a popular festivity where commercializing activities have entered deeply into the scenario.
This year’s celebration will be doubly organized by the City of Cebu, and a separate venue by the Province of Cebu.
Indeed, it has become a tourism-generating festivity in that province and city.
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Down to Western Visayas is the world-famous Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival celebrated on the last weekend of January.
Again, hundreds of thousands of foreign and local tourists converge at festival venues and sites where the image of Sto. Niño is the focus in the tribal dances of different barangays, entities and schools.
Expected is the influx of traveling tourists giving ample business for hotels and restaurants, including other stakeholders benefiting from the festivity.
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In Negros Occidental, Kabankalan City invites tourists to experience their own commemoration of the image, which also brings in economic opportunity for the business community.
Cadiz City in the province’s northern part shares its devotion to the Child Jesus with its version of the Dinagsa Festival, which is most attracted by local travelers and revelers.
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Festivals have always become an economic opportunity for revenue by small- and high-stake entrepreneurs, and such events are fully supported by different local governments in the province.
Even hotels have dictated their own room rates much higher than usual.
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One of the most remarkable festival attractions is that of La Castellana town, where Bailes de Luces’ dancing prowess and illumination attraction are still something to beat.
It’s a big wonder that, even being a modest town, its lady Mayor Mhai-Mhai Mangilimutan is able to gain world honors for its people through the awesome performance of the dancers.
Bailes de Luces has been invited to South Korea and other destinations to perform.
Of course, dancers of champion Barangay Granada in Bacolod’s MassKara Festival are readying themselves for an invitational exhibition performance by the Hong Kong Tourism Board./WDJ