Minglanilla: The Sugat Kabanhawan Capital of the South

     
     

As the dawn of Easter Sunday comes, everyone in the town of Minglanilla are busily buzzing and rushing about filling up the roads, cars and people alike, not wanting to miss the chance of witnessing Minglanilla's annual Sugat Kabanhawan Festival. 

     As a solemn believer of Christ, our Lord, I also take part in this special event. Every year, the Sugat Kabanhawan grand celebration is always started with the celebration of the Holy Mass within the oval of Minglanilla Central Schol. After the Mass is the most awaited part:  the re - enactment of the fight between Satan with his minions of fallen angels and Micheal the Archangel with his league of good angels.
The fight ends with Angel Michael defeating Satan. After the fight, the act is followed with little cherubs being harnessed and the carriage of Mama Mary (used during the procession with her wearing all black with a veil covering her face) is shown and one of the angels goes near Mama Mary and takes off her veil symbolizing that Mama Mary stopped mourning upon knowing that her Son has risen. The crowd then cheers as everybody cites the "Risen Christ" emerging from the highest part of the stage, and as an astounding and breathtaking 10 - minute fireworks display light up the still - darkened sky. 

Carabao Racing Contest

But the celebration does not end there, for there are still several activities to be done throughout the day. While some people who witnessed the main event in the morning choose to go home and rest, there are still others who stayed to watch or take part in the different games and activities. One of the most enjoyable game was the Carabao Racing Contest, where of course, Carabaos are the main participants. The Carabaos run around the oval while the crowd watches with great amusement as each Carabao strives to reach the goal first. 

At around 5 in the afternoon, the street dancing begins, starting from Sangi Road towards Minglanilla Central School. 

Street Dancing

The Festival goes on until midnight, at 8 pm until wee hours in the morning, a cultural or variety show is held in the same location every year. Sometimes, several famous TV celebrities from Manila joins the festival, they take part in watching the re - enactment and at night, they initiate the variety shows.

The Sugat Kabanhawan Festival truly is one of the most celebrated Festivals in Minglanilla and our very own Mayor Selma is very proud of the town as the record holder of the title: "The Sugat Kabanhawan Capital of the South". All of the officials of the Municipality of Minglanilla strive to make the yearly celebration as grand as possible, not because they want to show the other towns that Minglanilla is the best, but to express the people in this town's great devotion to our Religion, to God and to the Risen Christ. They want to let everyone know that this Season of Lent is very well respected by the devotees of Minglanilla and that Easter Sunday really is much awaited by the people in the scope of the Minucipality, and I am proud to say that I am one of them!

Photo Courtesy:
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