#happyfiesta

The Borongan Fiesta, is an annual celebration held in Borongan City, Eastern Samar, Philippines. The fiesta has strong cultural and religious significance for the city's residents, it is being celebrated in honor of The Nativity of our Lady, patron saint of Borongan City.

The history of the Borongan Fiesta dates back to the Spanish Colonial period when Borongan was still a small coastal settlement.Its development into a town, and eventually into a city, is traced back to the early 1600 out of the scattered hamlets located on the banks of the adjacent Guiborongani (Borongan or Sabang) River and Lo-om River. Guiborongani was the larger settlement and was later on called Borongan because of the heavy fog that usually covered the place. The name Borongan was taken from the local word “borong”, which in the Waray-Waray language means “fog”. The people inhabiting the eastern coast of Samar were originally called “Ibabao” during the pre-Spanish period. According to Meranau, Borongan is a common name of green Banana,located in the surrounding of Lake Lanao. The development of Borongan was greatly influenced by the religious missions of the Jesuits during the period 1604–1768, and the Franciscans from 1768 to 1868. Borongan was established as a pueblo on September 8, 1619. On this date, the Commandancia and the Very Reverend Father Superior of the Jesuits from Palapag, a town of Northern Samar, went to Ibabao to install the first priest of Borongan, Fr. Manuel Martinez, who served up to 1627.

During the Borongan Fiesta, various activities are conducted by the Borongan City Government and the local community. These activities aim to showcase the city's rich cultural heritage and bring people together in joyful celebration. The commonly held activities during the fiesta includes: religious processions, street dancing, palarong bayan, beauty pageants, food and trade fairs, and cultural shows and performances but the very highlight of the fiesta celebration is the Padul'ong Festival.

The Padul-ong Festival is the province’s way to pay homage to its Patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mary. The festival commemorates the day they received the image. It depicts a mythical presentation on how the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary was inexplicably transported to Borongan City all the way from Portugal. The festival also illustrates the legend of a mysterious “Lady in White” who allegedly visits the Hamorawan Spring regularly. According to the locals, the Lady in White has been blessing the spring waters with miraculous healing powers. Every September 7 or 8, Borongan City celebrates an early morning mass in a quaint chapel at Barangay Punta Maria. The mass signifies that the Padul-ong Festival has officially started. From the chapel, the small image of the Blessed Virgin Mary is transferred to Rawis Port. The first part of the festival is the fluvial procession where boat owners can join along with the official boat carrier of the small image across Rawis Bay. The image is then paraded through the town going to Borongan Cathedral. At the Borongan City plaza, there is a re-enactment of how the Blessed Virgin Mary was brought here in Borongan City.

These are just few of the activities being held every Borongan City Fiesta, to be mesmerized by these activities celebrate with us, come and have fun in Borongan!

(crdts: Go Borongan page)