Kahumayan Festival

Kahumayan Festival is the yearly rice, Christmas, and religious festival in the town of Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, Philippines every December 2. A week-long affair, it is a celebration of the production of rice in the town as well as an annual fiesta of its patron, St. Francis Xavier.

History of Kahumayan Festival

Kahumayan Festival is named after rice, which in the local language is called humay, and another related word kahumayan that refers to a rice field. It is a fest that gives recognition of the work of farmers, the importance of rice and its cultivation, promotion of rice and rice recipes, and encouragement to come up with ways to increase rice productivity.

Kahumayan Festival was mounted for the first time in 2010 in Kapatagan, which is considered the rice bowl of the province of Lanao del Norte. The town is primarily an agricultural town.

In 2012, it also added the PASKOhan sa Kapatagan (Christmas in Kapatagan). It was a call for lantern-making using locally sourced and environment-friendly materials among the town’s component barangays.

Aside from being a celebration of the coming Christmas season, it was also geared towards encouraging proper garbage disposal through the use of non-plastic products. These lanterns were put in an exhibit where people can purchase them.

Budbud Festival

Another event was included to the fest’s calendar. Called Budbud Festival, it was launched in 2015 and conceptualized as a thanksgiving for “peace and abundance”.

Budbud, also called suman, is a rice cake delicay that is made from steamed sticky rice and coconut mixture (often added with salt, sugar, and ginger slices) wrapped in leaves of banana, coconut, or palm. In that year, servings of the budbud were given free to commuters, passersby, and festival-goers.

Patronal feast of St. Francis Xavier

Kahumayan Festival is simultanenously the feast of Saint Francis Xavier, the patron of St. Francis Xavier Parish Church. The annual patronal fiesta of the town has been held since 1947.

Kahumayan Festival Activities

Opening activities of Kahumayan Festival occur in the last week of November. In 2022, the fest’s kick-off events were the switching on of Christmas lights and the official opening of the night market in the municipal ground. Other events include sports, the coronation of Majestic Queen of Kapatagan, competitions, and music festival.

How to reach Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte

One can get on a flight to Iligan Airport, the only airport in the province of Lanao del Norte. From there, the trip to the municipality of Kapatagan will take at least two hours in a distance of about 90 kilometers.

References

• Kahumayan Festival of Kapatagan. Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte. Retrieved December 24, 2022
• The Kahumayan Festival of the Municipality of Kapatagan in Lanao del Norte. Department of Tourism – Northern Mindanao Office. December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2022
• Kahumayan Festival. Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines. Retrieved December 24, 2022
• One Mindanao: 9th Kahumayan Festival sa Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte. GMA Regional TV. January 2, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2022
• Lanao Norte town holds first ‘Budbud’ festival. Sunstar. December 2, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2022
• Lorry Gabule. PASKOhan sa Kapatagan 2012: Showcasing indigenous-inspired Christmas lanterns. BusinessWeek Mindanao. November 23-24, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2022

Kahumayan Festival Summary

Name	Kahumayan Festival
Celebration	Agriculture, Christmas, Food, Religion, Rice
Church	St. Francis Xavier Parish Church
Country	Philippines
Date	December 2
Duration	1 week
Established	2010
Facebook	web.facebook.com
Location	Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte
Organizer	Municipal Government of Kapatagan
Patron	St. Francis Xavier
Religion	Roman Catholic
Simultaneous event	Christmas, Patronal Feast of St. Francis Xavier