The Sugat-Kabanhawan Festival is Minglanilla Municipality’s highly-anticipated event that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, considered to be one of the most shocking revelations in Biblical history. Minglanillahanons and devotees from all corners of Cebu gather at dawn of Easter Sunday to celebrate in jubilee the great hope that this day brings.
Sugat is a Cebuano word for ‘meeting’, while kabanhawan is for ‘resurrection’.
I had only learned about Sugat last week, thanks to my buddies at the Photographers Club of Cebu (PCC) who introduced me to it. By having experienced said festivity, I have gotten to appreciate more of Cebu’s history and Minglanilla’s rich and colorful past.
Grand Sugat-Kabanhawan Presentation
The celebration started with the Grand Sugat-Kabanhawan presentation as early as 3:00 AM. Participants from all parts of Minglanilla performed the “Sugat“, a re‑enactment of the glorious meeting of the Risen Christ and his Sorrowful Mother in the presence of thousands of parishioners, devotees and spectators.
Carabao Race
After that uplifting performance, more entertainment was in store for the rest of day. One of which was of local farmers showcasing the speed and might of their most-trusted business partners and no less than the country’s National Animal, the carabaos.
Excitement engulfed the crowd as they were cheering on for their bets in this adrenaline-pumping race. As soon as victors were proclaimed and the dust has settled, we’ve done the same as we await for the focal point of this annual affair, the Street Dance.
Street Dance
Street dancing is probably every festival’s icing-on-the-cake. It is where people from all walks of life meet to appreciate the beauty and vigor offered by the very enthusiastic performing contingents.
This year, there were 5 contingents for both the Elementary and High School categories. Here are the winners:
ELEMENTARY
Champion – Vito Elementary School
1st Runner-Up – Tungkop Elementary School
2nd Runner-Up – Manduang Integrated School
3rd Runner-Up – Minglanilla Central School
4th Runner-Up – Lipata Central Elementary School
HIGH SCHOOL
Champion – Minglanilla Science High School
1st Runner-Up – Guindarohan National High School
2nd Runner-Up – Tulay National High School
3rd Runner-Up – Campo 7 National High School
4th Runner-Up – Tungkil National High School
Ritual Showdown
The ritual showdown depicts the developmental stages of the town of Minglanilla from its humble beginnings to where they are now — a booming and progressive pueblo. It also showcases the resiliency and optimism of all Minglanillahanons amidst the many challenges that come their way, and how they persisted to survive as a united whole and evolve through the years.
The night ended with a magnanimous fireworks display, but I wasn’t there to witness it because I had to head back home.
Quick Facts
- Buat (dried fish) was the first name of the town prior to the arrival of the Spaniards.
- 18 de Julio Street was named after an event that took place during the Philippine Revolution.
- Minglanilla is a first-class municipality. The town was then a barangay of Talisay town in the early days.
- The town of Minglanilla is dubbed as the Sugat Capital of the South.
- Father Fernando Sanchez founded the town in 1858 and changed the name to Minglanilla, which was his birthplace in Spain.
- The Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, a church overlooking the island of Bohol, was established prior to the town’s foundation.
Christ’s Resurrection, more popularly known as Easter, is probably one of the most-celebrated religious practices in the Christian community all around the world, and being at a festival on this day of jubilation just might cover it. Let the Sugat-Kabanhawan Festival in Minglanilla be next in your bucket list.