Titang Diola: Frail but won’t miss the Sinulog

The oldest sinulog dancer and “heritage keeper” of the  original drum beat of Cebu’s biggest  festival  is too frail to  dance for the Sto. Niño this year.

If she gets to attend the Sinulog  on Jan. 20, she’ll have to sit back and watch  from a wheelchair.

Estelita “Titang” Diola, 87, is  recuperating at the Cebu City Medical Center after she broke her  hip  in a fall while trying to switch on the light at her home last December in barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.

Her niece, Carolina Diola, who watches over her in the government hospital  told Cebu Daily News that Nang Titang may  be discharged today. But due to her frail condition,  Nang Titang, who has difficulty walking, won’t be able to beat her goatskin drum or lead her troupe of child dancers  in the ancient prayer dance she first learned at the age of  7 from her father.

WHEELCHAIR

Her relatives are hoping someone would donate or lend a  wheelchair  so Nang Titang  can still  attend the  Fiesta Señor religious activities,  especially the annual Sinug sa Casa Gorordo held on the Monday after the feast day.

“Kung naa’y wheelchair, ako jud siyang dal-on sa Sinulog kay ganahan man gyud siya muadto. Mangita jud ko ug paagi para madala lang anko siya,” Carol said.

(If we have  a wheelchair, I’ll bring her to the Sinulog because she really wants to go. I’ll find a way to bring her.)

Carol, who joins her aunt in the prayer dance offered to the  Sto. Niño, said the “sin’ug” was a family tradition her grandfather had told them to continue, a promise that Nang Titang seriously keeps.

Carol also said they would be very grateful if  someone could help provide for Nang Titang’s medicine and other needs like milk.

POSITIVE WOMAN

The  Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI),  has been providing some  financial assistance for Nang Titang’s medical needs.

“We are trying to source a wheelchair for her,” said Dr. Joy Gerra, executive director for RAFI’s  culture and heritage program.

The foundation, which manages the museum Casa Gorordo, invites Nang Titang every January to offer the prayer dance in the garden, the Monday after the Sto. Niño feast and Sinulog parade.  The dance, performed with a troupe of Mabolo children with Nang Titang beating the drum and leading the prayers, is offered for the souls of departed ones of the Gorordo family.

The activity will still be be held on Jan. 21, said Gerra.

“Nang Titang is a very positive woman. She knew that she could not be (there) forever that’s why she has trained the next generation –   the kids in the neighborhood, to dance the Sinug dance at Casa Gorordo.

“We honor her, but even if she cannot dance, we look forward to her presence during the Sinug Dance.”

“This is a way to let people see the heritage that she has kept alive.”