MESSAGE OF F/CSUPT ROEL JEREMY G DIAZ, DSC, REGIONAL DIRECTOR, BFP-NCR DURING THE

CELEBRATION OF TOWN FIESTA OF CANTILAN, SURIGAO DEL SUR dated 11 August 2018
______________________________________________________________________________
GREETINGS:
Hon. Mayor Philip A Pichay
Hon. Vice Mayor, Genito Guardo
Members of the Sangguniang Bayan
Chief of Police of Cantilan
Officers and Non Officer Ranks of the Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail
Management and Penology
Officers and Personnel from the National and Local Government
Barangay Officials, Teachers, Parents, Students, Friends, Visitors

Marajay na buntag sa ato na tanan!

SPEECH PROPER:
I am deeply honored for this invitation to speak in front of you today. I am so glad
to be home for this occasion and join you in our Annual Fiesta Celebration. I know many
of you here don’t see me often but whenever I have the opportunity to come home, I find
time na muoli gajud sa kapistahan nin ato lungsod kay mabibo. Basta Catilangnon, bisan
hain pa kita ipadpad nin ato kapalaran ganahan ta gajud muoli panahon nin pista. I hope
everyone will agree with me when I say – THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME – AND
HOME TO US IS OUR BELOVED CANTILAN.

Twenty-six years ago, I left this beloved hometown to join the cadetship program
at the Philippine National Police Academy at Camp Vicente Lim, Canlubang, Laguna.
Two years thereafter, I left the portals of the academy as a fully grown man, filled with
enthusiasm, apprehensions, excitement and determination.

Today, I am now standing in front of you my fellow Cantilangnons with the heads
up and proud to say that I am able to bring home the bacon having been appointed by
the President to a star rank and the 6th Cantilangnon General in the uniform branch of
service.

Daya nan kapubrehon, waya lamang damha an kaniadto magsigiray nan

pandesal, ice candy, puto sanan bibingka, mangagisay nan uway, ahente nan lagos,
manghujay sa veneer, janitor, messenger, waiter and houseboy tungod sa
pagpaningkamot ug giya nan ako guinikanan nagin malampuson ako – amo ini batasan
sanan kinaija nan Cantilangnon. An mga Cantilangnon knows how to look back and
never deny diin ta gikan. We are known for our strong family ties, pagka maabi-abihon,
our resiliency, our work ethics being known as hardworkers and our perseverance. An
pagkamatinabangon way makalopos. Our willingness to serve and help others before
ourselves sets us apart and make us unique.

Meanwhile, while we are celebrating our town fiesta, let us all look back from the
grassroot why we have this festive and the significance of this annual event in our lives.
Annually, we are celebrating the fiesta highlighted by the Sirong festival to depict the
colorful cultural tradition that unites us, the Cantilangnons and the entire municipality. It
is our way of commemorating that colorful history of Cantilan which has been passed
from one generation to the next. Accordingly, it is a believed that “Sirong Festival is about
the honoring of that portion of Cantilan’s history where early Christians had to defend
themselves against the raids perpetrated by Islamized natives or Muslims, then called
by the Spaniards as Moors or Moros. The Sirong or Escrima under this festival is
described as fighting with bladed weapons.

The festivity is worthy of celebration because from this yearly custom, we are
proudly showing to our nearby towns and even to the whole world the richness of the
culture that we have, the symbol of Cantilangnons’ resiliency, unity, strong faith to the
Almighty and having a positive character of being simple yet blissful people.

As what I have told you, my story of success is a journey. What I have attained is
primarily the fruits of perseverance and lessons from the hardships of life which I lived
with and used as my inspiration in order to reach my goal. Thus, I always take pride with
this hometown where I was raised and molded which greatly contributed where I am
now. The journey was indeed not easy, but I took the challenge and worked hard for my
dreams.

For the younger generation, may you have always that the same spirit that we built
and foster through the years. The kind of values that we want to share and serve as
legacy to you such as taking pride with our hometown, preserving our origin, our culture,
and our best traits as Cantilangnons; continue working hard with your dreams; do not be
discouraged with the difficulties in life, instead be strong in dealing with all the hardships;
have faith on the desire of your heart until you achieve all those dreams, however, do
not forget to look back from your root for it is the most foundation that would compose
your wholeness as a person.

Again, maraming salmat sa inyong pakikinig at Marajay na buntag sa ato na

tanan!

-End of Speech-

AFTER four years in its absence as one of the major festivities in the province of Surigao del Sur, a local
organization in the historic town of Cantilan resurrected and rediscovered a traditional cultural celebration
known to its inhabitants as Sirong Festival, depicting the people’s resilience amid diversity and conflict.

The rich history in most coastal towns in Mindanao has been passed through one generation to the next based
on oral tradition and Hispanic influenced celebration during the fiesta of its patron saints. Thus, the festivity
became a major highlight during the annual town fiesta in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin
Mary, which was celebrated this year on August 15.

The coastal town of Cantilan in Surigao del Sur is known to be the cradle of all the towns in the area, which is
now divided into the towns of Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen and Lanuza or Can Can Mad Car Lan.
Historically, it is a coastal village constructed around a fort meant to defend from Moro raiders in the late
1700s.

It is from this coastal raids came the cultural tradition that unites its people and communities. A cultural
tradition with rich narrative; the festival, as a way of commemorating that colorful part of Cantilan’s history,
featuring an neo-ethnic mardigras parade and street dancing, culminating into a war dance, and where the
marauders are depicted to have been driven out by virtue of the intercession of the Catholic church blessed
Mother.

Legends point out to the apparition of the Virgin Mary every time Moro raiders would attack Cantilan. The
story depicting an image of a woman, believer’s later claimed that it was the Virgin Mary, who appeared in the
shores of the town and helped in driving out the raiders.
The means that the local inhabitants fought the raiders through Sirong or Escrima which their tradition
describes as fighting with bladed weapons or swords that became the hall mark of the presentation by the
participant as well as the theme of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“The Sirong Festival is about commemorating that portion of Cantilan’s history where early Christians had to
defend themselves against the raids perpetrated by Islamized natives or Muslims, then called by the Spaniards
as Moors or Moros. From 1768 to 1830, several attacks were launched by the Moros, prompting the Spanish
government and the people of Cantilan to establish the Baluarte de San Miguel that served as a fortress,” said
Vicente Cirilo Iriberri, president of the United Bardugs International Association of Cantilan, Inc., the
organization which spearheaded the effort of reviving the century old tradition.

Vivid street dancing

A day before the town’s fiesta, the vivid rivalry of the street dancing competition started early morning of
August 14, participated by the towns of Madrid, Lanuza, Cortes, Cantilan and the city of Tandag.

Colorful pageantry of costumes, mobile props and neo-ethnic choreography blended with the tempo of
upbeat percussions swarmed the narrow streets of Cantilan with hundreds of spectators.

By the afternoon, the intense heat of the sun could not contain the eager onlookers as they swarmed to about
8,000 people to witness the grand showdown of the participating contingent at the town’s Surigao del Sur
State University satellite campus ground.

The competition ended with the host town of Cantilan claiming both street dancing and grand performance
win over the rest of the participating towns and city.

Sirong Festival is an ethnic mardi-gras parade. Although some other municipalities in the province
of Surigao del Sur are claiming to have this festival originated from them. As most of this coastal towns
are founded during the pre-Spanish occupation and is both claiming the story of being attacked by the
moros. Sirong festival in Cantilan is the popular one than other festivals.

Sirong Festival 2008

Sirong is known to be a war dance between Muslims and Christians, reflecting the Christianization of
the early Cantilangnons. The Manobos and the Mamanwas are known to be the early Cantilangnons.
The Municipality of Cantilan started the Sirong festival in 2004 days before the town fiesta. It was
attended by other neighboring Municipalities in Surigao. With each contingents numbering to almost a
hundred performers. The event was a great success with the winner bringing home cash prizes. On
August 14, 2008, Cantilan once again hosted the event with the help from other local organizations
such as the BARDUGS Association of Cantilan in full support by the Local Government Unit
of Cantilan. As promised by the mayor that this festival will be held annually in this town.