“Lingganay” fest wins Pintados-Kasadyaan crown anew

By Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu

Thursday 28th of June 2012

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 28 (PIA) -- The Lingganay Festival of Alangalang, Leyte retained its Pintados-Kasadyaan crown in a spectacular festival presentation held at the jam-packed Leyte Sports Complex on June 27.

Pasaka Festival of Tanauan, Leyte emerged as second place, while Karatong Festival of Dulag, Leyte placed third.

The grand champion received P500,000 cash prize, a trophy and the chance to represent the province of Leyte in the next Aliwan Fiesta in Manila.

The Lingganay Festival got its name from the Waray word Lingganay which means a “bell.”

The festival was conceptualized in 1995 based on the legend of the town’s lost golden bell. The legend says that when the Moro pirates surprised the people, they tried to flee away with the bell.

When they reached the Bakga River, they threw the golden bell into the deepest part of the river so that Moro pirates would not be able to get it.

Until now, the bell has not been found. Legends say that its sound can be barely heard coming from the bottom of the river.

It is celebrated in conjunction with the town's fiesta on the 19th of June. According to oral history, since 1995, Lingganay has been joining festival dance competitions especially during the Pintados Kasadyaan.

Lingganay Festival has etched its mark in the culture and arts of Leyte, as it won as grand champion in the 2011 Pintados Kasadyaan Festival. It also bagged several awards in different festival competitions both locally and nationally.

The Lingganay Festival was second runner up in the latest Aliwan Festival in Manila in April.

Earlier this year, it brought home P1 million cash prize and trophy as the grand champion in the free interpretation category in the Sinulog 2012 besting 28 other contingents from all over the country.

Eleven contingents for the Kasadyaan category and another ten tribes for the Pintados category joined year’s Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival.

Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla led the provincial government officials who graced the grand event in full force. His wife Anne Petilla, congressman Mark Villar of Las Piñas, Partylist congressmen Bem Noel and Neil Montejo, regional directors, mayors in the different municipalities in Leyte and other local government officials were also present during the festival. (EOT/PIA8)