A PROPOSAL FOR TOURISM IN ALFONSO,CAVITE

A PROPOSAL FOR TOURISM IN
ALFONSO, CAVITE

INTRODUCTION:

THE TOWN OF ALFONSO

Once proclaimed the Most Peaceful Town in the province of Cavite, Alfonso was the former Barrio Alas-as of Indang until 1859 when it was established as a separate Municipality named after King Alfonso XII of Spain.

Only a stone’s throw from the scenic City of Tagaytay, Alfonso is a very good tourist destination.

It is the home of the cultic ritual called “Sanghiyang” (Ancestral Offering) and the Firewalkers known as “Barkos”. It is also where the Old Testament–based house blessing called “Basang Gilagid” is still practiced.

Alfonso is the place where the legendary “alas-as” plant and delicious “chicomami” grew first, and where the protective environmental Fairy called “piritay”, who always wears read in all her manifestations, is seen and known. Symbolic and very significant is its food called “Palutang”, which is offered on every important occasion of Thanksgiving. The most delicious “Pastillas”, “Tabliya” and “Achara “are products of this town.

Alfonso is the Flower Center of upland Cavite. At least six major flower farms are located here.

Through the continuous guidance of its Patron Saint, Saint John Nepomucene, the Alfonso folks are by nature, peace-loving, Pro-God, Pro-Life, Pro-People, Pro-Country and Pro-Environment.

MISSION:

To organize a SANGHIYANG FESTIVAL in Alfonso and to coordinate the festival’s activities.

VISION:

To help in the maintenance of peace and order through the Municipal Police Force and the Barangay Tanod.

To encourage the multi-sectoral support in the campaign to keep Alfonso clean and green for locals and tourists, particularly on the Barangay level.

To coordinate with the National, Provincial and Local Tourism Councils for the Sanghiyang Festival.

To band together local business establishments, to ensure their financial support and full cooperation for a successful festival.

Specifically-
To prepare welcome ceremonies and arranged for cultural presentations.
To negotiate with the owners for the use of available house/room, for the accommodation of tourists and guests.
To prepare a presentation of Sanghiyang ending up in Sayaw sa Apoy.
To monitor the quality control of Alfonso products such as Tabliya, Achara, Pastillas, Bukayo and Others. A committee shall also supervise restaurant and souvenir booths in order to maintain quality products and services.
To discipline and coordinate the use of public transportations like the jeepneys, the tricycles, etc., in going to their assigned routes.
To organize the local healers into a coherent, credible and disciplined members.
To invite participation of schools and NGO’s during the Sanghiyang Festival.
To encourage the Barangays to contribute local color and vitality to the festival.
To generate funds for a Foundation that will ensure that the Sanghiyang Festival will be a yearly presentation in Alfonso.

THE CONCEPT

Once a year during the third Saturday of January, a Sanghiyang Festival together with Sayaw sa Apoy shall be presented for the tourists. Together with the other guests they are expected to arrive Friday afternoon to be welcomed by a brass band on their way to the covered Basketball Court where they shall be given orientation and a taste of the local delicacies such as Palutang and Camachile bisquits.
From there the assigned group shall guide them to their accommodation of choice. Those interested could avail of the local healers who shall be in their assigned posts.

A dinner of Filipino food shall be offered but the guest may decide to eat in restaurants outside, near Tagaytay City. Saturday morning, they shall be offered Filipino breakfast with local chocolate (tabliya), salabat, or kapeng barako, together with especial pan Alfonso. Fresh local fruits and juices shall be offered too. Afterwards they can visit different cut flower farms and enjoy the beautiful natural landscape in different Barrios or Barangays. Some may wish to visit different Chapels, Churches and Retreat Houses. Others may decide to see how tabliya, achara, pastilllas and bukayo as well as suman and bibingka are made or how oil is extracted from coconut. They could also take a look at an antique stone grinder and observe how puto, kutsinta, and bibingka are cooked.

In the afternoon they can go to a Sabungan (cockpit ) or visit a healer for actual treatment of their ailments. At night they can visit a wake if there is one. They may observe a Sanghiyang (Ancestral Offering) or a Basang-gillagid (old fashioned house blessing) and experienced being one of the Walong Gulang). They may also attend any family celebrations such as Kompleanyo (Birthday), Padasal (Prayer offerings), Bura (Wedding), Tibaw (End of Novena for the departed), Babang Luksa (End of Mourning ) and other practices.

On Sunday morning, tourists may attend religious services of their choice depending upon their religious beliefs, and then do some shopping for souvenirs.

The SANGHIYANG FESTIVAL starts at 2:00 p.m. with the parade of participating Barangays and different schools showing their unique version of a Thanksgiving Ritual, their costumes in different shades of red in tribute to Nature’s Protective Fairy who always wears read. Four brass bands shall give the native sound and color to the parade which shall be at the Covered Basketball Court for the mass Sanghiyang Dance. Sayaw sa Apoy shall be performed at the open Alfonso Elementary School grounds where tourists, with permission from the Head Barko, may walk and Dance on fire.
After this final ritual of Thanksgiving the guests may opt to stay for another night to experience the traditional Harana (Serenade) or proceed to their destinations.

SANGHIYANG
A Thanksgiving Ritual

“Sanghiyanhg” is coined from two Tagalog words. “Isa” (0ne) and “hiyang”(compatibale), meaning, compatible whole or “nagkakaisang kabuuan”, which is the main purpose of the Festival… to show the compatibility and unity of the people in the community. It is also a cultic ritual preparatory to the rites of Ancestral Offering, Mediumistic Healing, “Basang-gilagid” (Ritual House Blessing), and “Sayaw sa Apoy” (Dance on Fire).

It used to be a Pagan rite but was later imbued with Christian connotations and biblical justifications as it claimed to be a hang over of Noah’s offering of Thanksgiving after the Universal Deluge (Genesis: VIII:20) How the ritual reached Alfonso, God only knows.


By: jett e. aviñante, m.d.
March 11, 2008