Caballo de Compostela

CEBU, Philippines - Five years ago in Compostela, Cebu, a festival was created to epitomize the rich cultural-religious heritage of the town. This was the “Caballo de Compostela” festival.

Its classification was obviously religious since the festival was in honor of Saint James the Apostle. As to why Saint James was mounted on a white horse was an inspiration from Spain. Caballo, Spanish for horse, was an inspiration drawn by the Spaniards during the crusades where alleged apparitions of Saint James (San Jago in Spanish, thus Santiago) on a white horse led the Spaniards to win battles against the moors. Cutting the story short, a Spanish friar named Manuel Alonzo brought the holy image of Saint James to a place in Cebu, which he named Compostela after his hometown in Spain. Compostela was then a part of Danao and later of Lilo-an.

The “Sinulog Eskrima,” a worship dance which closely resembles fencing movements, was usually offered to famous male saints like Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel and Saint James until the dance was closely associated with Cebu’s Santo Niño. Compostela once had a version of the “Sinulog Eskrima” called “Linangbay.” Unfortunately, it was never documented and the top performers of their time already passed away.

“Linangbay,” has similar movements to that of a crab moving its scissor-like claws in fencing motion. Whatever it was in shape and form, the dance must have been chivalric by inspiration or must have projected an image of a stately warrior although it might have been paradoxical to know that the performers may be thickly represented by candle vendors or local townsfolk.

Then, “Caballo” came along. This dance, ambitiously patterned from the concept of the “Linangbay,” is a modern version with a twist. Symbolizing strength, purity, integrity and faith with a deep sense of Spanish chivalry, the white horse that Saint James rode upon inspired a symbolism that led to the creation of the official festival of Compostela, Cebu on July 25, 2005, the patron’s feast day.

The assumption of a different administration after the 2007 local elections led to a temporary halt of the festival. Now, the “Caballo” festival is back. A premature “take-off” of the said festival (the newly elected pro-festival administration has not assumed office yet by the time) was during the Governor’s oath-taking at the CICC last June 28. Together with other famous Cebuano festivals, Compostela took a successful flight back to the mainstream.

“Caballo de Compostela” survived political rivalries of the town and is fuelled by the hope that the pride and glory brought by the festival would win all hearts to unity and would tear down many walls of indifference and apathy.

Many related stories will be told about this festival in the near future. Let’s just cross our fingers and pray that only the positive ones come out.

Viva Señor Santiago Apostol!