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Cebu

Hinulawan Festival

Hinulawan Festival is a cultural and religious festival in Toledo City, Cebu, Philippines every June 12. It is a celebration of the city’s vibrant culture, tourism, and economy and held in conjunction with the fiesta of St. John of Sahagun.

Coincidentally, the date is also the Philippines’ Independence Day.

Hinulawan Festival is part of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo.

Etymology

Hinulawan Festival originates from the Hinulawan, the precolonial name of the city. It is also the name of the river that wandered through the ancient settlement located in the western seaboard of Cebu and facing the Tañon Strait.

In 1861, it was made into a town with a church and rectory. However, a strong earthquake in June 1863 wrought substantial damages and the people evacuated to the present-day center of the town. The old settlement became known as Daanglungsod, while the new settlement was renamed Toledo after a city in Spain on July 12, 1869.

In 2008, the organizers introduced an alternative meaning of the word by breaking it down into two segments—hin for hinaguan (one that is hard-earned) and bulawan (gold or golden).

History of Hinulawan Festival

The city government Hinulawan Festival was conceptualized in 2007. It was created by the encouragement of the Cebu provincial government when Gwendolyn Garcia was governor and after the launch of Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, a tourism initiative, in 2005. However, the fest failed to take off the ground due to the elections.

In 2008, the Hinulawan Festival debuted within the tenure of Aurelio P. Espinosa as mayor along with the fest’s organizers Trinidad S. Bubuli (Tourism Officer) and Arlene E. Zambo (Vice-Mayor).

The festival has four features, namely golden treasure (expressed through farming, fishing, agriculture and mining), golden faith, golden friendship, and golden harvest. It came into being as a celebration to the city’s culture and history, its transformation from a town to a city in the 1960s, its growth brought about by large-scale open-pit mining of minerals such as copper and gold, and local tourism.

The development of its festival dance was overseen by Victor Hao Cuenco and Patricio Junjet. Contemporary choreography is expressed in neo-ethnic, Maria Clara-inspired, and hip-hop influences. The festival music was produced at the Soundtraxx Production, with its lyrics written by Gani Villarojo and vocals by Rene O. Campomanes.

In 2021, it was launched successfully compliant with government directives amidst the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2024, the provincial government under the administration of Gwendolyn Garcia provided a Php 3 million subsidy to the event.

Devotion to St. John of Sahagun

Hinulawan Festival is also organized to celebrate the fiesta of St. John of Sahagun whose devotion dates back to the colonial period.

Its church became a parish on July 8, 1863, just two years after the settlement was made into a town in 1861. The church was built in 1951.

Hinulawan Festival Activities

The calendar of Hinulawan Festival consists of many thrilling activities such as festival float, competitions, talent shows, street dancing, etc.

How to reach Toledo City, Cebu

From Mactan-Cebu International Airport, take a ride to the South Bus Terminal and then get on a bus to Toledo City.

References

Hinulawan Festival Summary

NameHinulawan Festival
CelebrationCulture, Religion
ChurchArchdiocesan Shrine of San Juan de Sahagun
CountryPhilippines
DateJune 12
Emailtoledocitypio@gmail.com
EstablishedJune 2008
Facebookwww.facebook.com
FounderAurelio P. Espinosa, Trinidad S. Bubuli, Arlene E. Zambo
LocationToledo City, Cebu
OrganizerCity Government of Toledo
PatronSt. John of Sahagun
Websitetoledocity.gov.ph