BY MA. THERESA LADIAO
IN CELEBRATION of the 87th Iloilo City Charter Day, a new cultural event has been introduced that promises to enrich and preserve the city’s vibrant history – the Saot Ilonggo: Folk Dance Festival.
This festival, born out of a desire to showcase and preserve Iloilo’s rich folk dance traditions, marks a significant milestone in the city’s ongoing commitment to celebrating its cultural heritage.
Iloilo City, known for its colorful festivals and deep-rooted traditions, has long been a cradle of rich cultural practices, particularly in folk dances. However, these traditional dances, once the heartbeat of local communities, have slowly faded from the public eye, with younger generations having little to no knowledge of these time-honored customs.
Ramil Huyatid, the visionary behind Saot Ilonggo and a passionate advocate for cultural preservation, shared the story of how this festival came to be.
“If we check the books on folk dances, there are ones from San Joaquin, Zarraga, Alimodian, Janiuay — Banderitas de Tanza, for instance. But Iloilo City itself doesn’t have its own recognized folk dance. So I told Mayor Jerry Trenas, ‘Mayor, as the regional coordinator for culture and arts, I’ve traveled across Region 6, and every place has its folk dances — why doesn’t Iloilo City have one? Because we can create our own.’”
Huyatid’s determination to revive Iloilo City’s folk dance traditions resonated with local leaders, leading to the issuance of Executive Order No. 096. This order established a special committee tasked with organizing the Saot Ilonggo festival as a key event in the Iloilo Charter Day celebrations. The festival aims to deepen the appreciation of traditional folk dances among student participants, sparking a renewed interest in the research and performance of authentic Ilonggo dances.
The Saot Ilonggo: Iloilo Folk Dance Festival is a comprehensive cultural initiative designed to inspire, educate, and engage the Ilonggo community, especially the youth.
“We will be using music that has been carefully researched and composed specifically for this competition,” Huyatid explained. “We’re looking for old songs from Iloilo City that haven’t been used in folk dances elsewhere in the Philippines. For example, “Iloilo Ang Banwa Ko” hasn’t been used in folk dances yet. Participants will use these songs in their performances.”
The festival’s focus on authenticity and cultural integrity is further supported by the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Incorporated (IFFI), which has provided financial subsidies for the participating institutions.
“We are fully supported by IFFI, similar to how they support the Paraw Regatta. We are limiting the competition to 10 participants to ensure quality research. At the same time, we are providing subsidies for the researchers, with prizes for winners and consolation prizes,” Huyatid added.
The winning performance from Saot Ilonggo will be submitted to the Philippines Folk Dance Society, where it will have the opportunity to be recognized and published in the society’s official records, further cementing Iloilo City’s contribution to the nation’s cultural tapestry.
Huyatid expressed his gratitude and excitement over the approval and realization of his proposal.
“This is a dream come true. God is good all the time. As the DepEd regional coordinator for culture and the arts, it is my task to promote and educate the younger generation about their colorful culture and traditions,” he said.
This year’s inaugural Saot Ilonggo: Iloilo Traditional Folk Dance Festival was held on August 21, 2024, at the West Visayas State University Auditorium. The event saw participation from 10 educational institutions, including John B. Lacson Maritime University, Central Philippine University, and West Visayas State University, among others.
With cash prizes ranging from P20,000 as a consolation prize to P60,000 for the grand winner, the festival has successfully ignited a spark of interest and pride in Ilonggo culture. The Saot Ilonggo: Folk Dance Festival is poised to become a cornerstone of Iloilo City’s cultural calendar, ensuring that the rich traditions of its people continue to thrive for generations to come./PN
