Argao Elem School wins Pitlagong Fest

CEBU - The contingent from Argao Central Elementary School was declared the winner in last Sunday's Pitlagong Festival in Argao held during the town’s fiesta celebration.

Organizers said that thousands of visitors from neighboring towns as well as from Cebu City witnessed the festival at the covered municipal gymnasium.

This year six contingents, mostly students of elementary and public high schools in Argao town, participated in the festival.

Students of Argao Central Elementary School portrayed a dance number hailed as a tribute to the tradition of townsfolk faith, food, work, livelihood and arts and crafts.

The contingent from Saint Michael School was judged best in street dancing and best in costume.

Argawanons have been celebrating the Pitlagong Festival since 2006 along with their fiesta celebration.

A pitlagong is an instrument for cleaning the sugong (bamboo container for tuba) which is very important to the taste and quality of tuba (coconut wine).

Tuba, according to the Department of Tourism records in Central Visayas, is what Rajah Humabon offered to first Spanish visitors led by Ferdinand Magellan. It was likewise offered to the ancestral gods by Cebuanos before they became Christians.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, the guest speaker of the festival, lauded the town officials under the leadership of Mayor Edsel Galeos for initiating the festival and said it is one way of promoting Argao and recognizing the livelihood and product of the town.

Galeos also thanked Zubiri for allocating funds for the completion of the town's sport complex. The mayor said before it was built they had to hold the festival outdoors.

Aside from the Pitlagong Festival, one of the highlights of the Argao town fiesta was the awarding of the Most Outstanding Argawanons.

Some of the awardees included Presidential Management Staff director general Cerge M. Remonde and former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr.

The town of Argao was first founded as a pueblo in 1608. – Jose P. Sollano/BRP (THE FREEMAN)