Tribu Atikla performs during the Sinulog sa Kabankalan on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023. (Photo courtesy of FRANCIS RYAN PABIANA)
DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Philippines — After a two-year absence, the Sinulog sa Kabankalan, one of the Filipino celebrations honoring the Santo Niño, was held on Sunday, Jan. 15
According to Kabankalan Mayor Benjie Miranda, many people from different localities in Negros Island and other provinces would want to witness the festival.
“After being forced to stay at home due to COVID-19 restrictions, I am sure that devotees of Santo Niño are excited to come and celebrate with us this year. We prepared so much to give a grander comeback despite the budget cuts the city faced this year. But we make sure that all participating groups have enough budget to stage a bigger Sinulog sa Kabankalan” he said.
According to Miranda, this year’s Sinulog is more “localized” and “culturally grounded” to the native culture of Kabankalan which is rooted in the indigenous people living in the city who ruled the place before colonial occupation.
The Sinulog sa Kabankalan is influenced by the warrior festival of the Dinagyang in Iloilo City and the Ati-Atihan in Aklan.
People flock to the streets to celebrate the festivity while staining each other with ground charcoal softened with water and some with oil.
This tradition has been practiced for years now and no one on the street, regardless of status or attire, is exempted from being stained.
Col. Alvimar Flores, Kabankalan police chief, told the Inquirer that they have been on full alert since Jan. 6.
“So far, since the opening, no untoward events were recorded and we hope this will continue until the fiesta is over,” he said.
Carlou Gana-an Bernaldez, a culture and arts professor at the Negros Oriental State University, said the concept of staining every spectators was influenced by the history of Kabankalan.
“Kabankalan is the town of indigenous groups, including Aetas. The celebration of Sinulog here is influenced by the Ati-atihan festival in Aklan and Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo. In honor of the forefathers and Señor Santo Niño, those who wanted to celebrate Sinulog should stain themselves with black,” Bernaldez said.
“Staining is part of the culture of Sinulog sa Kabankalan, everyone should welcome anyone who will stain them,” she added.
Kabankalan was a former Barangay of Ilog, where the Sinulog is a ritual reenacting the battle between the natives and the pirates. It was believed that Santo Niño saved the natives during the battle.
The musicality and visuals of Sinulog sa Kabankalan were inspired by the Ati-atihan of Aklan.
The “sakadas” of Aklan, or those who worked in the haciendas of Kabankalan, celebrated the Fiesta Señor at this time of the year by blackening their bodies and performing a dance prayer called “Panaad.”