The Opening of the Santo Niño de Hibatang Festival

The Santo Niño de Hibatang Festival officially opened yesterday. The highlights of the day included the First Session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the Mayor's State of the City Address and the opening of the Art Exhibit and the Agro Fair. The Opening Program was held at the Oquendo covered court. In attendance were the City Officials, Msgr. Bienvenido Chiquillo and the Oquendo Parish Council, a good number of Barangay Captains, and students and teachers from the Oquendo National High School.

The festival, the first in Oquendo is being held to highlight the 125th year of the commemoration of the Holy Infant Jesus as the Patron Saint of Oquendo.

More than the religious commemoration, the festival underscores the special distinction that Oquendo and Hibatang river hold in Calbayog history. Let me give you some historical tidbits from the Calbayog coffeetable book:

"... in 1612, Ibatan was one of the 12 principal villages administered by the Jesuits in Samar Island - Tinagon, Bangajun (now Gandara), Paranas, Malulubug, Caluigan, Libunao, Cotay, Cauayan, Ybatan, Boloneto, and in the island of Capul, the villages of Sucar and Savan. Ibatan and Tinagon were the largest of the villages with 330 households each. Ibatan became the forerunner of Calbayog."

"The Hibatang settlement was located at the mouth of Hibatang River (whose name it borrowed). The Hibatang River is the biggest nad longest river system in Cabayog City. It originates from the mountain areas along the boundaries of the towns of Lope de Vega, Northern Samar, and Calbayog City. It flows out into the Samar sea covering a distance of around 35 kilometers. For centuries, people have lived along its banks, sustained and served well by the bounty of the river. Like other settlements by great rivers, the forerunner of Calbayog had its beginnings along the Hibatang River."

"Oquendo had its beginnings in the settlement called Caybago along the Hibatang River. It was one of the visitas of the pueblo of Calbayog. On March 17, 1881, under the Franciscan, the principales of Calbayog submitted to the Provincial Governor and to the national government a petition to form a new pueblo independent of Calbayog. the proposed pueblo would include the visitas of Caybago, Pilar, Cag-anibong, Mag-ubay, Tarbucan and San Rufino."

"In 1948, when Calbayog petitioned to become a city, it aggregated its former barrios that became the pueblos of Oquendo, Weyler (Tinambacan) and Sta. Margarita. When Republic Act 328 was passed on July 15, 1948, Oquendo and Tinambacan were reduced to districts of Calbayog City."

Ribbon-cutting to officially open the festival. Mayor Mel Sarmiento (5th from the right) with Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino, Councilors Sonny Salurio, Ina Rabuya, Ver Porlares and Danny Bernate and the officials of Oquendo. (Photo by Vaughn Calvara)

(l-r) Councilors Ver Porlares, Virgil Clemens, Onx Montealto, Sonny Salurio and Nonoy Pasacas. (Photo by Vaughn Calvara)

Mayor Mel Sarmiento greeting the students who participated in the standing parade. Rightmost is Msgr. Bienvenido Chiquillo, Parish Priest of Oquendo. (Photo by Vaugn Calvara)

(Photo by Henry Puyat)

The CACO ISKOLARS performing during the Opening Program (Photo by Irene Pastrana)

Oquendo Punong Barangay Prudencio Pagunsan delivering his welcome remarks. (Photo by Irene Pastrana)

Mayor Sarmiento (leftmost) with (l-r) Councilor Ina Rabuya, Councilor Ver Porlares, Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino, Councilor Danny Bernate, Councilor Sonny Salurio, Councilor Charlie Boy Coñejos, Councilor Florencio Enriquez, Councilor Virgil Clemens, Councilor Nonoy Pasacas, Board Member Charlie Coñejos, Councilor Onx Montealto and Councilor Mon Uy. (Photo by Irene Pastrana)

(Photo by Vaugn Calvara)