‘Singkaban’ Bulacan’s way of celebrating history, art

CITY OF MALOLOS—The weeklong Singkaban Festival opened here on Tuesday to highlight the history, culture and tradition of the 437-year-old province of Bulacan.

Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado said the annual celebration has been promoting the province not only as an economic hub but also as a historical, art, culinary and cultural district.

“Singkaban,” Filipino word for decorated bamboo arch, is used as a welcome signage of a town, city or village in the country. It is widely used as decoration during town fiestas in Bulacan.

In the celebration, Singkaban also refers to “Sining at Kalinangan ng Bulacan” (Arts and Culture of Bulacan).

Alvarado likened the bamboo, the main material for the singkaban, to the spirit of Filipinos, who were colonized for more than three centuries.

“The bamboo, like the Filipino, will stand up against the wind. It is stronger than steel and harder than rock. The singkaban is a manifestation of Filipino creativity in transforming plain bamboo into a work of art,” he said.

Among the exhibits and galleries opened during the festival are the Bulacan Food Fair Exposition, where products of the province are on display, and the One-Stop Tourism Information Center, which guides visitors on local tourist destinations.

Eliseo de la Cruz, chief of the Provincial History, Arts, Culture and Tourism Office, said Singkaban is the “mother festival” in the province.

De la Cruz said more exhibits have been added this year, including the Bulacan Festival Costume Expo that showcases costumes and apparel used in different festivals.

A gallery was also opened to the public to raise awareness on Bulacan heroes who played important roles in the formation of the Philippine Republic.

The Tatak Singkaban ng Central Luzon, where local handicraft and other products are sold, was also launched at a shopping mall here.

The celebration will end on Sept. 15, in time for the 117th anniversary of the Malolos Congress.