E.B.Magalona to celebrate 2nd Sug-alaw Festival Jan.16-21

The 2nd Sug-alaw Festival of the Municipality of E. B. Magalona will kick off tomorrow, Tuesday, January 16 and will run until Jan. 21, in honor of Señor Sto. Niño and in celebration of the 51st year of its Hermano Mayores del Señor Sto. Niño.

The Municipal Government of E. B. Magalona, headed by Mayor Marvin Malacon, in partnership with the St. Joseph the Worker Parish, headed by Rev. Fr. Ernie Larida, have organized religious and cultural activities to highlight the theme, “Ululupod Kita sa Pag-Sug-alaw kay Señor Sto. Niño. @senso Saravia, Dunang Manggad Amligan Ta.”

This year’s activities include Novena Masses, Traslacion, Blessing of Images of Señor Sto. Niño, Caravan, Fun Walk and Fun Run, Pop Dance Competition, Drum Beating Competition, Zumba Street Party, Lamhitanay sa Banwa, Local Tribes’ Presentation, Kiosks (Food, Drinks, and Local Products), Foam Party, Fireworks Displays, and Live Bands.

The highlights of the festival this year will be on January 19 to 21. On January 21, Sunday at around 7:00 a. m., the Image of Señor Sto. Niño will be transferred from the residence of Hermano and Hermana Mayores 2023 to St. Joseph the Worker Parish. At around 11:30 a.m., the Image of Señor Sto. Niño will be installed at the residence of the Hermano and Hermana Mayores 2024.

Mayor Malacon is inviting the public to join Saraviahanon in celebrating the 2nd Sug-alaw Festival.

“Through the years, Señor Sto. Niño has abundantly blessed our beloved Municipality. It is with a heart full of gratitude and thanksgiving that I invite everyone to join us in praising and honoring Señor Sto. Niño through our 2nd Sug-alaw Festival that also marks the 51st year of Hermano Mayores del Señor Sto. Niño,” Malacon said.

“May the blessings of Señor Sto. Niño be upon all our homes,” the mayor added.

HISTORY OF SUG-ALAW FESTIVAL

The Sug-alaw Festival is the newest of the three main festivals of the Municipality of E. B. Magalona.

It was conceptualized in 2022 by Mayor Marvin Malacon in honor of Señor Sto. Niño and in celebration of the 50th year of Hermano Mayores del Señor Sto. Niño on January 15, 2023.

Thereafter, this festival is being celebrated every third Sunday of January, pursuant to Municipal Ordinance No. 01-2023 dated January 3, 2023, that was passed by the Sangguniang Bayan as presided by Vice Mayor Eric Matulac, and duly approved by Mayor Marvin Malacon.

“Sug-alaw” is a Hiligaynon term for “to welcome.” On the other hand, devotees are chanting in Spanish, “Alabare! Alabare!” which means, “I will praise you.”

In 2023, the 1st Sug-alaw Festival was co-organized by the Municipality of E. B. Magalona, headed by Mayor Marvin Malacon, and the St. Joseph the Worker Parish, that was then headed by Rev. Fr. Ernesto Salvador with Parochial Vicar Rev. Fr. Arnel Pabalate.

This year [2024], the 2nd Sug-alaw Festival is being co-organized by the Municipality of E. B. Magalona, headed by Mayor Marvin Malacon, and the St. Joseph the Worker Parish, headed by Rev. Fr. Ernie Larida, with Parochial Vicar Rev. Fr. Darcy Galas.

The festival draws strong support from Saraviahanon devotees of the Señor Sto. Niño, including Mayor Marvin Malacon and First Lady Mae Ross Malacon, who were former couple president of the Hermano Mayores del Señor Sto. Niño. Although the Sug-alaw Festival only commenced in 2023, the tradition of passing and welcoming the image of Señor Sto. Niño has been practiced in E. B. Magalona for 51 years already.

On January 28, 1973, Fr. Vicente Pelobello, then the parish priest of the St. Joseph the Worker Parish, founded the Hermano Mayores del Señor Sto. Niño, with then mayor Luis Magalona, and his first lady, Manuela Magalona, as the first Hermano and Hermana Mayores.

Since then, the Hermano Mayores del Señor Sto. Niño members recommend to the Parish Priest for approval one family as the Hermano and Hermana Mayores who takes on the responsibility of hosting the image of the Señor Sto. Niño for a year.

It is believed that the Señor Sto. Niño brings prosperity to those who have become Hermano and Hermana Mayores, which is why it is considered a blessing to host the image for a year.

To celebrate the coming of the religious image into their home, the Hermano and Hermana Mayores prepare a banquet for the devotees as a sign of their warm welcome for Se؜ñor Sto. Niño.

In 1980, the parish started selecting young boys to be the Knights of Sto. Niño, with Glen Boteros as the first knight. In 1981, the young Marvin Malacon was chosen as the Knight of Sto. Niño. This practice has been continued until the present.

Every year, Saraviahanon from different walks of life flock to St. Joseph the Worker Parish – bringing their best offerings, their respective images of Señor Sto. Niño, and young boys from every barangay wearing Sto. Niño costumes – for a blessing, to witness the crowning of the religious image, and celebrate the installation of the Señor Sto. Niño at the residence of the new Hermano and Hermana Mayores.

This celebration highlights the Saraviahanon culture that withstood the test of time and grounded on the framework of faith and devotion.

Alabare, Alabare, Señor Sto. Niño!* (E.B.Magalona PIO)