CORDOVANHONSTO WELCOME: Bakasi Festival

Philippine fiesta is one of the most interesting features of Filipino culture. Filipinos put so much importance to an artful and delightful celebration. Each city and barrio has one local festival of its own. On August 14, Cordova will welcome its first Bakasi festival.

Cordova Mayor Arleigh Sitoy said that the festival is a unique reinvention of their famous Dinagat festival. This creative idea of the municipal mayor aims to help the town of Cordova. He explained that the surprising reinvention would benefit the life of the Cordovanhons. The mayor wants to promote a culture of livelihood through a festival. He finds the exotic eel locally known as "bakasi", as the most appropriate due to its increasing demand by word of mouth. Mayor Sitoy confirmed that bakasi is peculiar to and abundant in Cordova, especially in Barangay Buag-sung.

The municipality of Cordova asked the help of Val San Diego to research on the concept of the festival and to execute the festival's six basic dance steps that would replicate the gliding movement of the bakasi. Val said that the steps are more on the wiggling of the body. San Diego dancers performed the Bakasi dance during the launching of the festival. The multi-awarded composer, Mr. Elvis Samorot, composed the festival's jingle.

The town's barangay captains support the first Bakasi festival. The involvement of 13 barangays characterizes Cordova's fiesta theme, Barangayan sa Cordova. Thus, it is not only the exotic saltwater eels that we will notice during the town's fiesta, but also the admirable cooperation of every barangay.

The municipality of Cordova is also organizing a Bakasi race and Bakasi cooking contest to show off the many ways in preparing bakasi, which is the main livelihood of the people. Mayor Sitoy added that the festival will allow Cordovanhons to earn extra money because of the strong promotion of bakasi. Mayor Sitoy admitted that the municipality of Cordova received P600, 000 from the office of Governor Gwen Garcia. The amount will be used for the entire celebration. He said that they do not depend on the Department of Tourism in terms of financial contribution because the governor's assistance is quite adequate.

With all these preparations, Cordova has indeed moved on from the Dinagat festival. Perhaps, the first Bakasi festival is a right move for the Cordovanhons on their attempt to bring out the defunct festival to the next level.