Mandaue to launch "Panagtagbo" January 12

CEBU, Philippines - The Taga-Mandaue Inc., a non-governmental organization (NGO) that helps promote Mandaue City as a tourist destination, will launch the city’s “First Panagtagbo Festival” on January 12.

The festival is the first of its kind in Metro Cebu which will be held days before the Sinulog Festival in Cebu City is celebrated.

“Panagtagbo” is the Cebuano term for “traslacion.” 

Louella Cabanero, the City Toursim Officer said the Panagtagbo Festival is set to be launched on January 12 through street dancing with students of the Mandaue City School for the Arts dancing to the tune of a brand new jingle composed by Elvis Somosot, a known Cebuano composer who composed the Snr. Sto. Niño Song. 

The “Panagtagbo” jingle will be sung by the winners of last year’s “Mandaue Idols.” 

The festival, according to Editha Cortes, an official of the TMI said the “Panagtagbo Festival” is a re-enactment, through dance, of the meeting of the blessed Señor Sto. Niño, Mother Mary, and St. Joseph.

The re-enactment is seen to become a competition next year. 

While the festival is launched this year, the traditional Traslacion will still continue since it is a church activity while the “Panagtagbo” is an activity initiated by the TMI in coordination with the government. 

Cortes said it was Mayor Jonas Cortes who suggested that the city come up with a unique festival.

The “Panagtagbo” will still compliment Cebu City’s “Sinulog,” since the Traslacion is part of the Sinulog.

It is the time when the images of the Holy Child, His mother Mary, are taken to Mandaue City to be with the image of St. Joseph.

All three images are then brought to the National Shrine of St. Joseph for a night-long vigil after which a fluvial parade during the dawn of Saturday takes place to bring all three images back to Cebu City. 

On January 11, the city opens “Heritage Exhibit” that will feature the icons of the holy images of the Sto. Niño, Mother Mary, and St. Joseph at Parkmall.  (FREEMAN)