Arts & Culture

2. • Hirinugyaw-Suguidanonay Festival is an annual cultural, religious, and food festival
in the municipality of Calinog in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. It starts January
24 and ends February 2. Its celebration is one offered to Sto. Niño and it is also a
showcase of culture and identity of the indigenous people of Panay Bukidnon.
• History of Hirinugyaw-Suguidanonay Festival
• Hirinugyaw-Suguidanonay Festival is a twin festival. Hinirugyaw Festival was first
held back in 1989 and Suguidanonay Festival was added to the yearly event in
2006. Their names come from the local words hirinugyaw which means jubilation or
merry-making or revelry, and suguidanonay which means storytelling. Each of
these two represents different facets of the event, which is organized jointly by the
parish of Immaculate Conception and the local government.
• Hinirugyaw is a religious celebration dedicated to the devotion of Sto. Niño. There
is one Sto. Niño parish located in the village of Badu. (The colonial era church in
the town center is placed under the advocation of Our Lady of Immaculate
Conception.) The Hinirugyaw celebration is an expression of faith of the Holy Child
among the people in Calinog. It is one of several festivals for Sto. Niño in Panay
island that include Dinagyang Festival and Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan.

3. • Panay Bukidnon
• Meanwhile, Suguidanonay is a tribute to the indigenous people called Sulod,
Sulodnons (translates to people who live in room- or closet-like settlement, which
refer to their territory) or Panay Bukidnons, a name that was created by expert Dr.
Alicia P. Magos. They are called with various names depending on their location
and proximity to a river. In Iloilo, they are called Halawodnon, one who lives along
Jalaur River which is also called Halawod. In Aklan, they are called Akeanon after
the Akeanon River. And in Capiz, they are called Panayanon for they lived in the
floodplains of Pan-ay River. They speak a distinct language that is a mix of Kiniray-
a and Hiligaynon.
• They inhabit the central portions of Panay that are parts of several provinces of
Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz, and Antique; most of their population are found in barangay
Agcalaga in Calinog. It is believed that these native inhabitants were of Malayan
descent. They either were living in coastal communities and retreated into the
interior mountainous lands by sailing upstream in the islands’ riverine systems
upon the start of Spanish colonization or they lived in these lands since time
immemorial. As such, they remained outside of foreign rule and influence as
deduced by the lack of adherents of Christian faith among their population. Yet they
have assimilated with the larger society to some extent.

4. • People of Panay Bukidnon are bearers of cultural properties such as their folk and
courtship dance called binanog (way of the hawk), embroidery
called panubok, binukot (maidens who were exempted from housework and
secluded from society, and they kept oral tradition of the community alive). The
most famous aspect of their culture is the suigadanon (translates to epic) referred
to as Hilinawod (translates stories of the Halawod River). It tells the adventures of
three mythic heroes Labaw Donggon, Humadapnon, and Dumalapdap.In addition
to being a work of literature, it also contains rich references to their way of life,
heritage, and tradition.
• Hinilawod is a multi-volume epic made up of over 28,000 verses that was
documented by anthropologist Felipe Landa Jocano, and it would take three days
to be recited continuously. A few in their community committed the story in memory
such as Federico Caballero who was recognized as a National Living Artist in
2001. He was given honors during the Hirinugyaw-Suguidanonay Festival in 2005.
• Linabugan Festival
• Part of Hirinugyaw-Suguidanonay Festival is the Linabugan Festival. Linabugan
Festival is a food fest. It gives attention to the food culture of Calinog particularly
recipes that utilize labog, called roselle (hibiscus bifurcatus) in English. The flower
buds and leaves of the plant are used in making some of famed specialty dishes in
Iloilo. Its taste profile is sour, so it is a main ingredient of indigenous chicken soup
that is akin to a sinigang (sour tamarind soup).