Hamaha marches on
That’s why we are hoping that our municipality will soon become the ‘business district of the east,’ even if we are not yet a city, although all features of a city are already here
If all celebrations equate happiness, festivals are a people’s way to get through rough patches, more than an ode to a glorious heritage. But with the threat of a novel coronavirus as a new world order, social distancing is a bumper-sticker statement, and major cities taking a rain check on their festivals that they had so religiously celebrated come hell or high water.
But not in Taytay, Rizal, which celebrated the Hamaka Festival with the same unadulterated frisson and inimitable dazzle, which, especially in these darkest of days, proved to be ever more positively smashing — the Bat Signal over Gotham.
A many-splendored thing
The Hamaka Festival, a weeklong celebration of thanksgiving, showcases the talents — and lifework — of the people of Taytay: woodworking, sewing machines and couture. Thus, the festival name is a derivative of the Filipino words “hamba,” “makina” and “kasuotan.”
The municipality holds the annual festival every 18 February, and conducts various events ahead of the fiesta. Pageants, such as Mr. and Ms. Teen Taytay 2020, and Little Mr. and Ms. Taytay 2020; the singing contest, Taytay Idol; a boodle fight of the Adobo Festival; Hamaka Bikefest 2020; Rizal Basketball League; and mixed martial arts competition are traditionally held by the municipality.
The festival centerpiece parade, meanwhile, touts Taytay’s local government employees, schools and their organizations, pride products and celebs.
This year marking its 45th, the festival started on 6 February for the
“Araw ng Pasasalamat” and ended on 16 February for a car show, the mayor’s night and variety show.
For thy bounty
“The truth is the fiesta of Taytay is on 24 June, the feast day of St. John the Baptist. But it has been the custom of Taytay residents to have a Thanksgiving Day apart from the fiesta,” Taytay Mayor Joric Gacula said, explaining that the thanksgiving was started by Taytay’s farmer-ancestors for the bountiful harvest from the rice fields.
Because the harvest season happened on February, and if the produce was good, the local farmers celebrate “Araw ng Pasasalamat,” which they eventually called the Hamaka Festival.
The mayor said the festival was also named after the hamaka, the native hammock, which was believed to have been used to carry the young Jose Rizal to Antipolo when his mother, Doña Teodora Alonso Realonda Rizal, prayed to the Virgin of Antipolo.
But there’s a caveat
“Upon the advice of Taytay Municipal Health Officer Dr. Jeffrey V. Roxas, I announced the postponement of the Adobo Festival Boodle Feast to prevent and safeguard the public from the 2019 novel coronavirus,” Gacula said in a public advisory on Facebook.
He explained that people constantly talking while the food is laid down on the banana leaves waiting to be eaten using fingers is a very dangerous and possible way to get infected.
“Moreover, we cannot use face masks while eating,” he stressed. “We cannot risk the lives of the public.”
All Hamaka events by the Department of Education, which involves the participation of students, were also cancelled.
Brand refresh
From “Bagong Taytay,” which is the erstwhile branding of the municipality during the first term of Hon. George Ricardo Gacula II, the city refreshes its slogan to “Best Taytay.”
From the old “Best Taytay” logo, which consists of red and white colors with the slogan “One Goal. One Dream. One Team” on top and three stars below, now the new one consists of dark blue, light and dark red combinations with a triangular edge accent.
On 4 February, the new branding was launched simultaneously with the Hamaka Festival news conference.
The mayor said the primary objective of the rebranding is to promote local tourism, reviving the woodwork and garments industries of the municipality. He also said that many are looking forward to the world-class Taytay Sports Complex and the annex of the Rizal Provincial Hospital System.
“That’s why we are hoping that our municipality will soon become the ‘business district of the east,’ even if we are not yet a city, although all features of a city are already here,” the mayor said.
Vice Mayor Michell Bermundo said the council made a resolution to name the municipality as the garments capital of the Philippines, not getting exhausted in crafting policy to better promote tourism, adding that the business sector in the municipality is their partner in this endeavor.
The project is supported by the municipal council Bermundo heads, together with Councilor Elaine Leonardo (chairman of the Taytay Committee on Tourism), Roderick Santos, (Municipal Tourism Office department head) and Public Information
Office head Mark
Jay Valdez.