Panagsana 2008, a set on Flickr.
I am counting days before my first ever homecoming since I left the Philippines in exchange of a greener pasture (which, is always not the case) in Canada four years ago.. While there are many exciting things I am looking forward to experiencing in my month-long holiday, which of course, includes Panagsana Festival (our hometown fiesta), my mind is debating on the righful claim of the municipality to the term Panagsana..
Panagsana is the process of traditional salt-making very unique to Barangay Davila.. Please do not get me wrong, but as far I am concern, the term itself is a treasure to Davilenios/Davilanians (folks from Davila) that it has been a lifelong part of its culture, it’s a life..
I myself is an offspring of a wedded gorgeous lad from Poblacion Dos and a beautiful lass from Barangay Davila; and growing up within the confines of two different grounds had taught me lots of things.. While downtown Pasuquin might be more of a rat race place, and Davila is a much laidback side of town, I can not in any way vividly recall or remember that the term Panagsana has been used as daily word of mouth of taga-ili (downtown folks). On the other hand, having spent all of my childhood summertime in my mother’s birthplace, the term means everything.. Panagsana is life itself to all Davilanians/Davilenios..
Maybe, I am a little obscure debating the right of the municipality to use the term as it’s official festival name, but hey, as a halfbred Davilenio/Davilanian, I think I have all the right to raise questions concerning the selection of the word itself, to be made as the town’s festival byline..
I’ve lived almost all of my life in downtown Pasuquin and I can deny by all means that Panagsana has been as popular as the festival itself in the last 20-30 years (Oh well, the festival is only on it’s 3rd or 4th year.. Correct me if I am wrong).. While it may be known as the term used by a good number of towns people only during the annual salt-making season, it was never a term that has been a part of every Pasuquinios’ life.. I bet my two cents if someone you run into at the municipal supermarket knows what an Ilna/Elna or Bakar or Pangarudkudan means or looks like?
Only Davilenios/Davilanians use those terms.. Only the dark-complexion-toned-muscle-guys and skinny-pretty-chicks from Davila can ride a karison and know exactly what the term means..
If the culture itself is very confused, so are the people comprising the society.. If Pasuquin, as a whole takes pride of the rich tradition of salt-making as it’s frontline industry, then every Pasuquinio, regardless of where they are from (mountain side, sea side, suburbs and downtown) should have their own abung-abung during the salt-making season for which they would spend two to three good months of challenging high and low tides of pinagkarudkod, ala, Davilenio/Davilanian style..
Before settlers occupied the shore of Barangays Caruan, Estancia and Cababaan and started their own salt production industry using their own approach, Panagsana has been an established unique salt-making process embedded in the lives of Davilenios/Davilanians.. It’s the most unique term that makes this Barangay outstanding and a standout from/among the rest.. The term itself is synonymous to Barangay Davila.. Panagsana is Davila, itself, and for any other Barangay in Pasuquin to engaged in the same industry, Davila alone is the runaway winner of setting the standards..
So why on earth would the Municipality of Pasuquin, used the term in its favor to make a provocative statement of merry-making, when in fact, Panagsana has not been practiced by all of Pasuquin? I doubt if the Local Government Unit (LGU) allots a chunk of it’s budget to support the salt industry that they claim, has “put back the name of Pasuquin in the map”.. If Pasuquin would have really wanted to showcase this industry as its own, there is a great need of support that is to be extended from all of the town to create a well-leveled and a better playing field for salt makers and traders, and make this industry the town’s very own..
Why don’t they simply use Biscocho (bread rolls) as a base term to showcase the rich cultural tradition of most Pasuquinios.. I am pretty sure that everyoen in Pasuquin knows Biscocho better than Panagsana.. And I’m twice much sure that Pasuquinios would rather have biscocho for a snack rather than asin (salt). Biscocho has been a rather more popular Pasuquinio product that crosses overseas for many years.. Besides, everyone in Pasuquin eats Biscocho.. (I’ll write another blog for biscocho, so I’m not gonna swerve away from my point)..
While Davila itself can be silent or generous regarding this concern, as it finds itself blessed with another rich and colorful tradition of celebrating Dumadara Festival (which, I guess is another rightful claim of the Barangay), there must be a way that sooner or later, Pasuquinios would rather wake up celebrating a festival of its own that does not only represent one side of its town but its entirety..
I am not picking any fight, but I personally believe, the use of Panagsana Festival as the town’s official fiesta name is a downright insult to Davilenios/Davilanians who for many years, have rolled up their sleeves, picked up their rakes and shovels ready for the shore, rode their karisons, burnt their skins by the shore, built their keraang and abung-abung (hut), pepared their stash for Panagsana and Pinag-maro (trading), busted their butts out under the heat of the sun, braved the unpredictable tides, and relaxed under the lights of the fireflies that flicker around the Pagsanaan at night..
