PUBLISHED April 8, 2007

PHOTOGRAPHY and WORDS BY MARIANO SAYNO

Sigpawan Festival is a yearly celebration in Lemery, Batangas. It’s held on Easter Sunday and celebrates the bountiful resources of the town—particularly its beautiful bay and the bounty of fish and fruit that it provides.

The festival starts with thanksgiving mass honoring San Roque, the patron saint of Lemery. Afterward, there’s a parade to the town center where all the festivities will take place.

Other activities include cultural presentations and mural painting competitions for young lemery artists. But the highlight of the festival is a fluvial procession along the Bay. Local fisherman and families join in on this procession, with music from marching bands accompanying them as they sail towards shore—while parishioners pray solemnly for a successful fishing season ahead.

Visitors to Lemery are greeted by local vendors promoting their various agricultural products, and the town’s native delicacies, such as “Sinaing na Tulingan,” which make Lemery a favorite tourist destination. Cultural shows

Other activities include cultural presentations and mural painting competitions for young lemery artists. But the highlight of the festival is a fluvial procession along the Bay. Local fisherman and families join in on this procession, with music from marching bands accompanying them as they sail towards shore—while parishioners pray solemnly for a successful fishing season ahead.

Visitors to Lemery are greeted by local vendors promoting their various agricultural products, and the town’s native delicacies, such as “Sinaing na Tulingan,” which make Lemery a favorite tourist destination. Cultural shows

were also shown during the event, as well as street dancing that will parade in entire town with colorful costumes. Competitions like talent showcase and battle of bands were also held that all locals are excited about.

The festival’s name comes from “sigpaw” word meaning small net with a handle—a fisherman tool used to scoop fish along shorelines or use in catching shrimps or small fry. The farmers also used this net to pick fruits from trees. For this is commonly used in the entire town, the festival was born by this inspiration and was supported by all.

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