Feature: Libacao, Aklan and its “Baesa Parada”

all photos courtesy Libacao Eco Adventures FB

SINCE TIME immemorial, the first people who established abode in the hinterlands of Aklan went to Libacao via the Aklan River. History tells that some of these people went as far as the town of Libacao through the river channels of the Aklan River. They reach as far as Barangay Dalagsaan, the farthest and last barangay in the southern part of Aklan in the Municipality of Libacao.

From then on, the first inhabitants sporadically founded dwellings along the riverbanks in the hinterlands of Barangay Dalagsaan and later on went down the lowland barangays of Oyang, Manika, Loctuga and all other lowland barrios of the municipality until now.

In the absence of road during that time, the cultural minorities (now called Akeanon-Bukidnon) under the Indigenous Peoples Reform Act (IPRA) traditionally used the Aklan River as their passageway from and to the upland villages.

Historically, in 1941some brave and patriotic men of Libacao organized a group called “bolo battalion” promoting the norms of parochialism, conservatism and loyalty to their country. These patriotic men joined the battle against the Japanese Imperial Army that invaded the Banga Municipal Hall in Banga, Aklan fighting with just their locally made bolos or “talibong” against the military rifles of the Japanese Imperial Army.

Libacaonons are traditionally respectful, friendly and hospitable people. Part of their cultural traits is the hospitality especially to guests and tourists. Among the tokens locals   are giving to visitors aside from farm harvests, is the native talibong (bolo blades). Talibongs are usually shared as tokens or memento among special and distinguished guests during municipal celebrations, special and official occasions because it represents the name and cultural heritage of the town.

Libacao is also rich in cultural heritage. It has different unique styles of cultural dances, such as: Pahid sa Marapayaw, Sotis, Baludan, Inagong, Mazurka, Inamo, Binanog, Sampok-kaeayo. Aside from talibong, it has also the agong (brass cymbals), taming (shield), bangkaw (spear), tibod (clay jar), sapot (talibong with pure silver handle and artistic design) and sibat (arrow).


There are also cultural practices especially in the hinterland barangays like hungaw (pre-arranged marriage with ethnic family marriage ceremony), bas-ing (conflict settlement among warring families) and dupli (multiple marriage)presently practiced in sitioTaroytoy and Aytabag in barangay Manika, and sitiosTaban, Pula, Maytaraw in barangay Dalagsaan, which has been legalized by the Indigenous People’s Rights Act Law (RA 8371) “recognizing, protecting and promoting the rights of the cultural minorities (IPs)”.

With the advent of the Indigenous Peoples Reform Act (IPRA), a law which preserves and protects the cultural well-being of the nomads, Libacao became part of the Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs). Presently, there are eleven (11) of its barangays declared as indigenous cultural communities called the Akeanon-Bukidnon.

Under the law, the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) are given full authority to develop, preserve and exploit the natural resources within the ICC included in its geographical location. It will have its Indigenous Cultural Development Plan that will govern their way of living (DILG/NCIP Joint Circular # 1-2011).

Because of this situation, the indigenous peoples have already established permanent houses along the river and in the upland areas- even in the declared Military Reservation, Protected Areas and vulnerable to hazard places to earn a living out of the richness of vast forest land areas. Same thing is true with the non-IPs in the remaining non-IP barangays who likewise built domicile in the areas vulnerable to hazards of soil erosion and flood.

Rooted from the traditional act of using the Aklan river as means of transportation through the use of bamboo raft (baesa), the people of Libacao who are dominant Roman Catholic believers celebrates the “Baesa Parada” Festival as a yearly festivity held every November 24 of each year as among the highlights during the vespers of the Municipal and Religious Fiesta in honor of patron Saint Catherine of Alexandria slated November 24-25 every year.

As Libacao Roman Catholics’ patroness, Saint Catherine of Alexandria is the Patron Saint of Philosophers, Theologians and Royal Women. A Patron considered being defender of a specific group of people or of nation. She was extremely well-educated and was receptive to new ideas.

Advocating the principles of Saint Catherine, the municipal government of Libacao is also receptive to new ideas and concepts, thus the yearly festival known as “Baesa Parada” (bamboo raft parade) was conceived to preserve and showcase the traditional means of transportation during the old days of the Libacao inhabitants until today.

This event showcases the creativity, cultural heritage, traditional norms, customs, traditions, relics, artifacts and agricultural produce of the local folks. It also highlights the sense of ownership, social participation, responsiveness and people empowerment.

Initially, based on records in the Office of the Municipal Engineer, this inimitable and exceptional episode in the history of Libacao, Aklan was conceptualized through the concerted efforts of the local administration and the concerned local stakeholders, barangay, municipal, provincial and national government, under the administration of former municipal mayor, Engr. Geraldito A. Villorente in 1996;Engr. Roger M. Esto in 1998 but not showcasing bamboo rafts on a river procession but only through the display of agricultural products, cultural relics and artifacts in the Agro Fair, Trades & Exhibits at the Libacao Town Plaza.

During the re-election of Mayor Roger M. Esto in the year 2000, the “Baesa Parada” started but all the agricultural products and other displays in the bamboo raft were transferred to the designated Agro-Trade Fair Booths at the riverside upon arrival from the point of origin of the river parade.

In the advent of the next local administration under Mayor Charito I. Navarosa in 2004-2013, the Baesa Parada was also advocated with a sense of ownership, sustainability and inclusive growth with the Agro Fair, Trades & Exhibits infused to the bamboo raft for river parade with the municipal bamboo raft on the lead where the image of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Parish Team Ministers and the Municipal Mayor are laden.

Along with the bamboo raft procession (“Baesa Parada”) was the bamboo raft racing contest but was later on discontinued due to the risk to lives of the contestants due to strong rapids that may cause incidents of drowning.

Aside from its concept of tourism development and promotion through showcasing of cultural heritage, the “Baesa Parada” Festival is also a challenge among stakeholders on creativity and composure, and on its twenty four (24) barangays which are divided into eight (8) different zones which are participating in the contest, thus:
Zone 1 - Calacabian, Magugba, Pinonoy
Zone II - Dalagsaan, Manika, Oyang
Zone III - Loctuga, Rivera, Rosal
Zone IV - Agmailig, Batobato, Can-awan
Zone V - Calamcan, Julita, Sibalew
Zone VI - Alfonso XII, Pampango, Poblacion
Zone VII - Casit-an, Guadalupe, Ortega
Zone VIII - Bonza, Janlud, Ogsip

With the advent of year 2018, as the local government celebrates the town fiesta, there is a change in the clustering of barangays to participate in the “BaesaParada” Festival. This innovation ensued to strengthen the unity and cooperation among the stakeholders. The 24 barangays were grouped into only three clusters, as follows:

 Cluster I - - Calacabian, Magugba, Pinonoy, Agmailig, Can-awan
Bato-bato, Casit-an, Ortega
Cluster II - - Poblacion, Janlud, Calamcan, Ogsip, Bonza,Sibalew
Julita, Guadalupe
Cluster III - - Pampango, Alfonso XII, Rosal, Rivera, Loctuga
Manika, Oyang, Dalagsaan
Cluster IV - - Akeanon-Bukidnon Indigenous People Tribe

 The municipal government promoting the institutionalization of the “Baesa Parada” Festival is annually allocating funds from its development fund to defray incidental expenses for this activity which includes cash prizes for the Most Creative and Best Designed Bamboo Raft.

This is a crowd-bearer big event adding color to the fiesta celebration where throngs of local and foreign spectators gather all together watching the beautiful, attractive, colorful, picturesque and graphical display of agricultural products and cultural showcase in different styles and uniquely designed bamboo rafts (baesa) parading from the upper stream of the Libacao River to the Poblacion riverside area where eyewitnesses coming from different destinations are waiting.

On the lead of the bamboo raft parade is the municipal raft (baesa) where the image of Saint Catherine of Alexandria is being laden together with the Parish Ministers of the Saint Catherine of Alexandria Parish, Local Chief Executive and other municipal officials, where upon arrival of the bamboo raft parade to the urban Poblacion, the religious portrait is transferred through a procession of devotees to the Saint Catherine of Alexandria Church for the vespers mass.

The river procession was then continuously held every year with the change of the local administration to Mayor Vincent I. Navarosa in 2013-2016, and again upon re-election of Mayor Charito I. Navarosa for the period 2016-2019, and will stay on and on to preserve and pass on to the next generation the rich cultural heritage of this municipality.##

Rey Z. Orbista, Secretary to the Sangguniang Bayan of Libacao, Aklan
December 27, 2017; Updated: November 13, 2018