Compostela introduces Kumbira Festival

CEBU, Philippines — The Municipality of Compostela, Cebu has launched its newest festival yesterday, July 21, rebranding its old Queseo Festival.

Now known as Kumbira sa Compostela Festival, the town will now celebrate their various delicacies and products.

Last July 8, the Cebu Provincial Board approved Ordinance No. 11 series of 2024 enacted under Resolution No. 121 or an Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 3 series of 2013 “An Ordinance Renaming The Queseo Festival” to “Kumbira Sa Compostela Festival” as the official festival of the Municipality of Compostela, Cebu.

Compostela Tourism Officer Christopher Paradiang told The Freeman that their reason for changing the festival is to level up and showcase other dishes found in their town.

The queseo, which is white cheese made from cow’s milk, is no longer abundantly produced in Compostela, said Paradiang.

“The products of Compostela kay nagkadaghan na sad gyud siya and I think the industry of Queseo is already not that widespread kay there are seasons nga hinay ang supply saamong milk, so we cannot supply that much of milk for Queseo, so we might as well level up,” said Paradiang in an interview.

Paradiang clarified that queseo is not a dying industry in their town, however, there is a need to showcase more products that are thriving in Compostela.

“We are not considering the industry of queseo as dying but kinahanglan siya i-level up namo since naa nami daghan products,” he added.

The tourism officer said that some of the products they are showcasing for Kumbira sa Compostela Festival are fried eggs, and their newest delicacies such as empanada and bikong pinalatik.

“We are not only showcasing one product…that’s what makes this very unique compared to the other festivals in the whole province of Cebu,” Paradiang added.

He also added that their newest festival is not only to party or “kumbira,” but rather a significant celebration which symbolizes unity, love, and family for Compostelanhons.

He furthered that the new festival will give a deeper meaning to the town’s tagline which is our “Home Compostela” where Paradiang emphasized that there is “love of family, love of friends, love of the community and love of all the Compostelanhons.”

During the launching, the Compostela Performing Arts performed the Kumbira sa Compostela Festival dance for the first time.

Although there was no competition yesterday, Kumbira sa Compostela Festival will compete for the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2024, which will be held at Cebu City Sports Complex on August 25.

Paradiang said the performers are already rehearsing for more than a month to showcase for their newest festival first time for this year’s Pasigarbo sa Sugbo.

“Mao nani among entry sa Pasigarbo sa Sugbo…wala pay competition sa Compostela, muuna mi sa Pasigarbo sa Sugbo” said Paradiang. — /ATO (FREEMAN)