Religion and fiestas elevate spirits in Negros Occidental amid sugar disaster

Regardless of the sugar disaster, streets vibrate with drums, colourful costumes, and the chants of Catholic devotees, as communities in Negros Occidental cling to their religion throughout the Santo Niño fiesta, defying the financial despair round them

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – In predominantly Roman Catholic Negros Occidental, the place sugar costs have collapsed and livelihoods are beneath siege, religion has turn into a gradual anchor. 

Imported sugar has flooded the market, driving native millgate costs down to P2,000 to P2,100 per 50-kilogram bag, effectively beneath the P2,500 customary manufacturing value. Because of this, farmers, mill homeowners, and 1000’s of agrarian reform beneficiaries face mounting losses, with many struggling to make ends meet. 

But for days till Sunday, January 18, streets vibrated with drums, colourful costumes, and the chants of Catholic devotees, as communities clung to their religion earlier than and throughout the Santo Niño fiesta, defying the financial despair round them. For a lot of Negrenses, perception is a supply of endurance and hope, and never merely a convention.

Kabankalan Metropolis and the city of EB Magalona, concluded their respective celebrations, Sinulog de Kabankalan and Sug-alaw Pageant, all honoring the Youngster Jesus. Whereas Kabankalan and EB Magalona concluded their festivities on Sunday, Cadiz Metropolis is ready to start its 52nd Dinagsa Pageant on Monday, January 19.

Wennie Sancho, secretary common of the Normal Alliance of Employees Affiliation, GAWA, stated the resilience of the province’s sugar business is being examined amid low millgate costs, inconsistent authorities insurance policies, and looming threats from sugar import liberalization.

“We’ve confronted challenges earlier than and we’ve overcome them. Let’s do it once more,” Sancho stated.

For a lot of Negrenses, the celebrations are a supply of power and a reminder that devotion persists even when livelihoods are on the road, and so they supply greater than leisure. 

Kabankalan Mayor Benjie Miranda acknowledged the financial pressure on sugar farmers however stated it had not diminished the religion of the town’s residents.

“The sugar disaster can by no means compromise our religion within the Señor Santo Niño. Sinulog, which began right here in 1976, nonetheless unites us. We overlook politics as we strengthen our religion and have fun our tradition, historical past, and heritage,” Miranda stated.

The Sinulog Basis Included, supported by the native authorities, was behind the festivities, which included tribal and mardi gras road dances, enviornment competitions, fluvial parades, pyro-musical shows, superstar concert events, and a magnificence pageant.

Kabankalan, the province’s top-earning metropolis, is house to the Southern Negros Growth Company, District Mill and greater than 1,000 large-scale sugar planters. Round 5,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries additionally domesticate sugarcane, lots of whom are immediately affected by the hunch in millgate costs.

In EB Magalona, the place 16 of 23 barangays stay depending on haciendas, Mayor Matthew Louis Malacon stated the Sug-alaw Pageant had drawn unprecedented crowds. The five-day celebration, in its fourth iteration, honored Santo Niño de Saravia and included spiritual ceremonies, cultural showcases, and sporting occasions.

“Sug-alaw permits every Saraviahanon not simply to have fun, however to deepen and strengthen their religion in Santo. Niño,” Malacon stated.

Cadiz Metropolis, in the meantime, postponed its pageant opening to Monday as a consequence of dangerous climate as a consequence of Tropical Storm Ada (Nokaen), which had threatened communities close to Kanlaon Volcano with lahar flows. Mayor Salvador Escalante promised an much more grandiose celebration this 12 months.

Now in its 52nd 12 months, Cadiz’s Dinagsa highlights embody the Ati road dance competitors and the Lamhitanay sa Dalan, the place 1000’s smear one another with colourful non-toxic paints. – Rappler.com