Batangas | Sublian Festival 2013

Batangas Sublian Festival 2013

I spent eight years of my life (my high school and college years) in Batangas but I haven't witnessed Sublian Festival in those times. Not even from my hometown where they said the sublian has originated. Last July 23 however, I decided to watch sublian for the first time. It was a solo trip. I went there on commute and witnessed the festival alone. Though Batangas City is where I studied college, this solo stint to the festival somehow gave me a strange felling. Yes, I can easily have small talks with the people there but the idea that I was there alone (after more than a decade) made me feel like a tourist.

Actually, there really are lots of changes in this city now; the establishments we used to go to, the lomi stalls we frequented before, were not there anymore. Except for my alma mater (though somehow different too because of its new name and higher tuition fees, no more "iskolar ng bayan" now, I guess) everything in this city looks and feels different. The streets are more crowded, lots of vendors are on the sidewalk, even the old commercial establishments are now more like bazaars, not with the same stature they used to hold. Sure, it's more progressive  now (same traffic though) but still, I miss the old city. Or maybe, I'm just missing my old friends, hehe.

Anyway, enough of flashbacks, back to the future now. Since I have no choice (solo nga eh) I just enjoyed the event. I busied myself taking photographs and walking around, observing the so many people that went there despite the rain. That's right, there were so many people along the route of the parade in spite of the pouring rain, especially in the plaza and in front of the city hall. The reason: they were looking forward to see the GMA Kapuso's float with the cast of My Husband's Lover.

Unfortunately, I didn't see them, neither the whole parade. Aside from being late (got stuck in traffic), the pouring rain prevented me from wandering the streets that long. I decided to go to the nearby church to pay respect and then just waited outside the church for the parade to pass. While waiting, I suddenly saw people rushing to the city hall (the church is just a few meters away from the city hall). They said the GMA float was already at the city hall and that the MHL casts were already making their speech. I joined them and went there too. Unfortunately this is the only photo I got: :(

this is the only photo I took of the MHL casts...
see the man in blue at the city hall's balcony? that's Vincent of MHL. 
Kapuso float without the kapuso stars ;(
the hunks! :P
super sireynas! :P 

Sublian Festival in Batangas City started in 1988 and is celebrated every 23rd of July ever since, in commemoration of the city's foundation day. Its goal is to instill the tradition of subli in the province. Subli is a worship dance in honor of the Holy Cross (the patron saint in the towns of Bauan and Agoncillo) and Sto. NiƱo (patron saint of Batangas City). Subli dance is traditionally performed with the accompaniment of a wooden drum and chanting praises (similar to the tune of traditional narrative of pasyon during Lenten season). Sublian Festival is celebrated not only in Batangas City but also in the towns of Bauan (where the subli tradition was said to originate) and Agoncillo. Though a worship dance, subli can also be construed as a courtship dance because of its steps and movements which resembles that of courtship. For more information about subli and its history, you may click here.

subli masters from Agoncillo, Batangas
subli competition - elementary level participants

Part of the Sublian Festival is the subli dance competition. It was participated by the students from the different schools in Batangas (province) as well as by members of the communities too. The program started with the presention the traditional subli as performed by the so-called subli masters from each of the three towns (Bauan (Sinala), Agoncillo and Batangas City (Talumpok)) where it came from, each of which has its unique way of dancing and performing subli. Below is a video I compiled from the short clips I got watching the competition. Pardon if the video and audio were not as synchronized as it should be, the original video clips have indiscernible audio that's why I edited it.



~ oo00oo ~

Realization: Traveling solo is not easy (despite the fact that I'm familiar with the place) - no one to tell your thoughts about the event/place (at that time), no one to chat with, no one to take your photos, and lastly, no one to share the expenses with...hehe! But hopefully, I can still do it in other places, places where I'm not that familiar. That's all for now peeps, happy weekend! 

19 comments:

  1. I love festivals and I just realized that now when I was older. When I was still in college, I never even thought of attending those that is why I haven't seen any festivals in the Philippines but I hope it's not too late coz i would definitely see some when I get back.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Sam! Festival is a yearly event in many of our towns/cities here, sched your coming home when there's one so can see one. :)

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  2. Nice to know you more through your story. Good to know the hidyory too behind this event.
    I agree with you. Travelling alone is not fun:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the visit ate Joy, traveling alone is not that fun but full of adventures, still. ;)

      Delete
  3. May ganyan palang festival dyan? Sabi ko puntahan ko next time then I saw the date eek birthday ng bunso ko yan eh can not be. Yan din ang reason bakit di ko napanood si Lebron :(

    Pareho tayo muka akong turista sa sarili kong probinsya kasi mas matagal na ang city life ko :(

    At ewan ko ba kung bakit nawawalan ako ng gana pag may mga artista sa mga festival. Feeling ko ba hindi nila deserve na nandun or para sakin nagiging komersyal.

    Ang haba naman ng comment ko lolz :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Try mo sis sublian sa Bauan, may 3 fiesta dun, yun sa Agoncillo di ko alam kelan, sana wala na kasabay na event sa family mo. :)

      Di ata mawawala mga artista sa festival, pinupuntahan din talaga nila eh, promo din. ;)

      Delete
  4. One thing I miss most about Philippines is the Festival and Fiesta . I've been to Batangas once and I love that province and you are right medyo crowded na nga sya. Ala eh kaganda naman nire he he!

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    Replies
    1. Ala eh maganda talaga sa batangas, nasikip na nga laang din, natitiis pa naman. hehe...

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  5. Sublian? galing, Now ko lang narinig yan. nako ma research nga yan at mapuntahan sa susunod, Tnx for the info

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    Replies
    1. Salamat sa dalaw Jonathan, may sublian din sa Bauan (Batangas), May 3 naman, para may choice ka.

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  6. Glad you enjoyed Subliankahit paano. By the way, do they require a ticket para makapasok at makapanood? Parang indoor yung mga presentations eh, judging from the photos. baka lang maligaw ako dyan sa next celebration ;-)

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    Replies
    1. Hi Ms. N! Ala pong ticket, at least this year, sa Batangas City Coliseum ang venue, malapit/tapat ng Batangas State University. :)

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  7. aba, may festival palang ganyan sa Batangas.

    Mas gusto ko ang solo travelling! wala lang hahaha

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    Replies
    1. solo daw eh lahat ng gala mo daming kasama, naman!! hehe...

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  8. Andaming tao because of mhl cast tooo haha! Sguro indi mo alam ung festival na to kasi lagi ka lng nasa bahay lols

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    Replies
    1. Hi Josh! Sinabi mo, inabangan talaga nila mhl, hehe. nde ko alam yun festival kase di naman nila pino-promote dati, saka tama ka rin, sa bahay lang, alang datung eh. Hehe...

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  9. Ako din di ko pa nawiwitness ang festival sa amin. Solo travelling exciting at nakakakaba, pero kung may mahahatak naman sa lakaran bakit kailangang magsolo? Good thing naexperience mo din paunti unti ang solo travelling, way to go!

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  10. Will you be the next MISS SILKA BATANGAS 2013?

    Join the search for Ms. Silka Batangas 2013 2nd screening on Saturday, SEPTEMBER 7, 2013 @ Fiesta World Mall, Lipa City around 12:00 pm


    QUALIFICATIONS:
    - 16-22 years old
    - single / no child
    - fair and smooth complexion
    - at least 5'3 in height
    - bonafide resident of BATANGAS
    - NO TATTOO/ES

    For interested party/ies :
    Look for Ms. Lourdes or Ms. Rian. # 0906-244 8077

    pls. like us : https://www.facebook.com/misssilkabatangas2013

    ReplyDelete

  11. Will you be the next MISS SILKA BATANGAS 2013?

    Join the search for Ms. Silka Batangas 2013 2nd screening on Saturday, SEPTEMBER 7, 2013 @ Fiesta World Mall, Lipa City around 12:00 pm


    QUALIFICATIONS:
    - 16-22 years old
    - single / no child
    - fair and smooth complexion
    - at least 5'3 in height
    - bonafide resident of BATANGAS
    - NO TATTOO/ES

    For interested party/ies :
    Look for Ms. Lourdes or Ms. Rian. # 0906-244 8077

    pls. like us : https://www.facebook.com/misssilkabatangas2013

    ReplyDelete

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