PAGADIAN CITY: The “Pangadyian”
Festival reenactment was held here last Friday afternoon at Wharf Area here,
opening the week-long revelry.
The Melengas dance ensemble of the
Western Mindanao State University-External Studies Unit (WMSU-ESU) made the
reenactment depicting the history of Pagadian.
“Pangadyian festival” replaced
“Pasalamat Festival”, an annual cultural and religious festival held every third
Sunday of January, also the Santo Nino celebration.
Sto. Nino Parish administrator Rev.
Fr. Rico Sayson is the chairman of Fiesta Executive Council (FEC) 2015.
Sayson said two most important
historical accounts were recorded in Pagadian, namely, the horrendous Malaria
outbreak which claimed hundreds of lives of the residents, and the crossing of
early settlers on the Illana Bay despite strong winds and huge waves.
The strong faith and devotion to
Sr. Santo Niño helped control the spread of malaria and the infected patients
were miraculously healed.
Sayson added the faithful Catholics
need to know the evolution of “Pangadyian Festival” for them to fully
understand, appreciate and recognize the past decades.
The annual fiesta celebration is
also the city’s own identity, he added, a living example of a real and unique
Cebuano culture.