Cordova town to launch "Bakasi" fest Aug. 14

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has released P600,000 to Cordova town for the launch of its first Bakasi Festival on Aug. 14.

Cordova Mayor Arleigh Sitoy said the Bakasi Festival is a revision of the yearly Dinagat Festival and would focus on the life and livelihood of fishermen.

The town had decided to modify the concept of the festival so as to help fishermen. Cordova had celebrated the Dinagat for six consecutive years until last year.

He added that the abundance of seawater eels locally known as "bakasi" had prompted them to make this a festival this year.

Garcia is supporting the festival. Her donation would go directly to the different barangays.

"Bakasi" has long been known to Cebuanos not only for its good taste but also because of its "ability"to enhance one's fertility.

The small eels are usually stewed, known in the dialect as "tinola." But these could also be cooked by other means such as the "linarang" which the bakasi is cooked in oil, black beans, and a generous amount of spices, or grilled in charcoal.

Other interesting activities to watch out for on Aug. 14 include street dancing, the bakasi and kisi-kisi contest, and a cooking contest with bakasi as the dish.