Argao's Pitlagong Festival 2007

The Municipality of Argao is a picturesque municipality 68 kilometers southeast of the majestic province of Cebu. It is a place of various flora and fauna where the traditions and cultures of distant history as well, as the technical and global savvy of the present converge.

It is a municipality rich in history and teeming with hospitable people: the Argawanons. Its colorful history gave birth to the pitlagong, an implement in the gathering of the famous tuba sa Argao. Tuba is coconut toddy which has given flavor to the delicacies of the town and character to its inhabitants. It is an implement essential in determining the quality and purity of this famous native drink. Derived from the term arises a most colorful and unique celebration — the PITLAGONG FESTIVAL.

As an Argawanon myself, being a son of a native Argawanon, I always look forward to going home to Argao especially when the town celebrates its town fiesta every 28th and 29th of September. I am just like any other "probinsyano" for that matter who gets excited on a fiesta homecoming. Especially after learning from some kababayans that a lot of great things are happening in our town through the efforts of our "brand new" mayor, Mayor Edsel Galeos. And, wow, how impressed I was when I saw for myself everything that they were talking about. If this is how he works, I hope he can be mayor forever! Where were you all these years, Mayor Edsel?

As what my sister Karla Kintanar-Fernandez quipped, "It's like longing to see  the sunrise on a long, dark, gloomy night. And finally I wake up  with the sun shining!" To name two of his achievements in his first 100 days in office are the beautification and the restoration of the town plaza which I've been dreaming to happen for the longest time and the implementation of the dormant curfew ordinance on minors from 18 years below. With the implementation, the said minors can roam around the town only until  9:30 in the evening. Anyone caught will have to pass the night in the municipal detention cell.

Anyway, the week-long fiesta celebration ended with the colorful Pitlagong Festival with no less than Governor Gwen Garcia in attendance on the eve of the town fiesta. The grand mardi gras was participated in by the different schools of Argao.  The not-so-cooperative weather that day wasn't a hindrance to the young students who showed their best in front of the overwhelming crowd. Emerging as winners were: San Miguel Academy, 1st place; Canbanua National High School, 2nd place and Argao Central Elementary School, 3rd place. For the minor awards: Colawin National High School, Best in Andas; Canbanua National High School, Best in Instrumentation; Usmad National High school, Best in Costume and Colawin National High School, Best in Street Dancing.

In the evening, hordes of Argawanons flocked to the town's tennis court and filled it to the brim to witness the 2007 Mutya sa Pitlagong Beauty Pageant where I was given the honor to sit as one of the five who composed the board of judges, along with  Atty. Floralil L. Albert, Carmina Salazar, Vip Semilla and Ryan Plaza. The bevy of beauties were  all true-blooded Argawanons. Bringing home the crown that night was Arthes Parantar from Barangay Suba who bested the nine other candidates.  Runners-up were: Liahona Llesol 1st runner-up; Gebel Katrina Beltran, 2nd runner up; Maria Alexia Gonzalez, 3rd runner-up and Catherine Mier, 4th runner-up. The night pageant hosts were Richi Nuevo and Ms. Janeth Amarillo.

In general, the whole Pitlagong Festival was a great success and can  truly  be considered  as one of the best festivals around the province of Cebu! An event every Argawanon  can truly be proud of.  Kudos to the following who made everything possible: Jocelyn Paculba, Artistic Director and Choreographer of Pitlagong Festival and Mutya ng Pitlagong; Junjun Veloso Mutya ng Pitlagong over-all coordianator; Alex Gonzalez, Argao Tourism Board ; Cesar Diez and Ael of Cesar's Studio (who supplied me with all these beautiful photos); Humphrey Diez; Glenn "Matet" Reyes; Merrna "Tuding" Sarabosing-Fwah, former Mrs. Hawaii-Philippines and Richie Matarlo, stage designer and, of course, Mayor Edsel Galeos.