Biggest broom supplier to show Silhig Festival

Paknaan is ‘Phl’s no. 1 silhig lanot maker’

CEBU, Philippines - More crowd is expected to witness the third Silhig Festival in Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City on Sunday.

In a press conference, barangay captain Meloquias Soco said they are expecting more spectators this year, especially after choreographers have assured him more improvements in the dance showdown competition.

Unlike last year wherein there were only seven contingents that joined the festival, there will be eight contingents vying for the top spot this Sunday.

The eighth contingent will be composed of residents from the 6.5-hectare relocation site in their barangay.

Soco said the barangay has allotted a P418,000 in budget for the festival. The city government gave P200,000 to the barangay while it still awaits donation coming from the provincial government.

Prizes at stake for the dance showdown this year include P25,000 for the first prize, P20,000 for the second prize and P15,000 for the third prize. Non-winning contingents will each receive P10,000.

The Silhig Festival is part of the fiesta celebration of the barangay which honors the blessed Sr. Sto. Niño. The barangay already celebrated their fiesta last Sunday.

The Silhig Festival was conceptualized three years ago in a bid to attract more investors and showcase the barangay's main source of livelihood, "silhig lanot" or broom.

Soco said Barangay Paknaan is the biggest supplier of silhig lanot in the country. The Paknaanon Multi-purpose Cooperative buys all the brooms made by its constituents and distributes these nationwide.

It was also known from Soco that the ground where they used to perform their dance showdown was already brought by a pharmaceuticals company last year. But they said they are still lucky this year because they are still allowed to hold their dance showdown in the same lot for this year's competition. (FREEMAN)