When devotion finds its rhythm: Inside Tandag’s Hinalaran Festival
TANDAG CITY (MindaNews / 19 January) — The heartbeat of the 44th Hinalaran de Tandag Festival could be felt long before the performers took the floor of the Tandag City Mega Gymnasium on Sunday.
Weeks of shared rehearsals, with musicians practicing side by side with performers, learning every movement, pause and cue until rhythm and motion became one.
It pulsed through the steady rhythm of drums, flutes and the sharp accents of bells all played live by musicians who moved in quiet synchrony with the dancers.
Performers danced not to recorded tracks, but to the powerful rhythms of live bands like the Tandag Drumbeaters, a 23-member ensemble whose presence added raw energy and emotion to the ritual presentations.
Their instruments ranged from scream whistles, bongos, timbales, snare drums, and half, long, and big barrels, to more traditional sounds from the bamboo lyre, lyre, flute, angklung, gandingan, agong and bass drum, complemented by cowbells, jam blocks, djembes, and bugles. Each sound carried meaning and marking transitions in the choreography and intensifying moments of devotion.
Among the first-time participants was the Children of Mary Immaculate Tandag Unit, composed of more than 40 members. Their festival queen, Yorie Pasia, carried with her not only weeks of preparation, but also the collective prayers and dedication of her fellow performers as they shared their first Hinalaran experience.
A total of nine groups participated in this year’s dance and ritual presentation, each bringing its own expression of faith, culture, and advocacy to the celebration. These included Anawen, Children of Mary Immaculate Tandag Unit, Tandag Dance Community, Higala San Agustin Sur, Jacinto P. Elpa National High School (JPENHS), the LGBTQ+ community, Barangay Bongtud, Barangay Awasian and Tandag Indak Production.
The festival, originally called Diwatahan, was started by the late former Representative Mario Serra Ty and Mrs. Gloria Ty, together with their children. It later evolved into a citywide tradition under the leadership of former Mayor Marybeth Ty, who continues to head the festival’s organization.
For Ty, Hinalaran is about returning to the simple yet powerful faith of a child, while also recognizing the responsibility to protect nature, particularly for the people of Tandag and the wider Surigao region.
“Sama sa isa ka gamay nga bata, pinaagi sa dako nga pagtuo,” Ty said, describing humility and deep belief as values she hopes the people of Tandag — especially the younger generation — will carry in their daily lives, alongside a strong sense of responsibility to protect the environment.
With the support of the local community, the local government, and the Diocese of Tandag under Bishop Raul B. Dael, the festival once again became a living expression of faith.
“Hinalaran,” Ty explained, is an act of giving thanks.
“It is an offering to give praise and thanks to God in exchange for His love, mercy, and the blessings we have received through the years.”
This year’s celebration carried the theme “United in Faith and Love.” Festivities began with a religious procession at 7 a.m., followed by a Holy Mass at 8:30 a.m. at the St. Theresa Compound, culminating in the dance and ritual presentation at 10 a.m. at the Mega Gymnasium.
Festival organizers announced the winners of special citations, recognizing excellence in discipline and artistry. The group “Anawen” was named most disciplined group, while Barangay Awasian received the best costume award.
For the festival queen competition, Tandag Dance Community emerged as first place, followed by Barangay Awasian in second place, and Jacinto P. Elpa National High School (JPENHS) in third place.
Organizers clarified that there was no award for best group performance, emphasizing that the presentations were not meant to compete, but to serve as a collective showcase of faith, devotion and commitment to environmental protection.
As the awards were announced honoring discipline, costume and dedication, a louder message lingered in the rhythm of the drums: faith is not only spoken or prayed, but felt, practiced and passed on through music, movement, and shared devotion.
The Hinalaran de Tandag Festival, celebrated in honor of Señor Sto. Niño, continues to highlight deep religious devotion, cultural heritage and environmental consciousness, a living offering that beats at the heart of Tandag City. (Queenie Casio / MindaNews)
No comments:
Post a Comment