This week’s milestones: Sept. 22 to Sept. 28
Sept. 25, 2020
Barcelona Church in Sorsogon
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines installed a historical marker on one of the oldest churches in the Bicol region, the Barcelona Church, also known as the St. Joseph Parish Church, in Barcelona, Sorsogon. The church, built in 1874, is located on the picturesque site of the eastern seacoast of Sorsogon and near the Fort Ruins, which are remnants of the Spanish-era municipal hall, fortress and schoolhouse. The Barcelona Church stands out with its baroque-style, dome-like structure and stunning stained-glass windows on the interior. The church was mostly constructed out of coral blocks that were held together using a mixture of egg whites and coconut wine known as “tuba.” It has stood the test of time and the elements with its stone walls and bell tower still in their original form.
Sept. 26, 1945
By virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 687, Catanduanes was separated from the province of Albay to become an independent province. Located in the southeastern peninsula of Luzon, Catanduanes is the smallest among the provinces in the Bicol region, with a land area of 1,492.16 square kilometers. It is composed of 11 municipalities and 315 barangays. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, it also had the smallest population in Bicol with 271,879 in 2020. On April 15, 2022, it was declared the “abaca capital of the Philippines” through Republic Act No. 11700. It was recognized as the country’s leading producer of the native fiber, with around 14,000 abaca farmers and 27,000 strippers who produce what many regard as first-class material of abaca due to its durability.
This week’s festivals
Dahunog sa Dipolog (Sept. 27 to Oct. 9)
The Dahunog sa Dipolog is one of the most celebrated festivals in Dipolog City. Its name derives from the Cebuano word “dahunog,” which means rumbling sound. During the festival, the city’s streets are usually packed with marching bands preparing for a parade and striving to present the most thunderous, lively and entertaining musical revelry. The Dahunog sa Dipolog is held from the final week of September to the first weeks of October and usually filled with several activities and events appreciating local music and art, with the marching band showdown being its most highlighted event. It will also coincide with Dipolog’s Sunset and Coffee Festival.
Bañamos Festival (Sept.17 to Sept. 22)
Bañamos Festival in Los Baños, Laguna
The Bañamos Festival, started in 2002, is an annual festivity held in Los Baños, Laguna. The festival name is Spanish for “we bathe,” with the festivities highlighting hot spring resorts in the area which many believed contained natural minerals that could treat illnesses. Celebrated for a week, the Bañamos Festival includes a mass “healing bath,” a fluvial parade in Laguna Lake and a Marian street dance known as “Elejer.” This year’s festivity will also feature events designed to boost tourism and make young people engage in sports and creative activities. The festival also includes flower and garden exhibitions that highlight the beauty of nature through floral displays and arrangement competitions. This festival will also coincide with the celebration of the establishment of Los Baños.
Bañamos Festival in Los Baños, Laguna
Compiled by: Nathalie Grace Adalid, Inquirer Research, Source: Inquirer Research, National Historical Commission of the Philippines Facebook page, Dipolog Tourism Facebook page, Bagong Los Baños Facebook page, coa.gov.ph, psa.gov.ph, mirror.pia.gov.ph, pna.gov.ph, dipologcity.gov.ph, tpb.gov.ph, philatlas.com, nhcphistoricsites.blogspot.com, elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph
