Every 16th of July, Misamis Occidental particularly the Ozamiz City is celebrating its Subayan Keg Subanon Festival. This celebration is regarding the Our Lady of Triumph which is held every 16th of July, on the capital’s charter anniversary.
Subayan Keg Subanon is Ozamis City’s week-long festivity that portrays the lifestyle and traditions of the Subanons, the foremost settlers of Ozamiz who were migrants from the nearby provinces of Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur. The word subanon came from the term “river dwellers” taken from the root suba which means “tributary.” The waterway of Lwayen, which links the tereestrial and aquatic wonders of the Misamis and Zamboanga peninsula, was once the playground of the Subanons.
The main feature of the festivity is the Street dancing which depicts the Subanons in songs, dances and other forms of simulated social expression that’s participated by different private and public schools, 51 barangays and government contingents using creative costumes and props. They parade and mime along the streets that gives way to the pure, genuine and authentic Subanon culture and pageantry enacted for both show and benediction. At the end of the day, locals and travelers alike are entertained by the battle of the bands, which features homegrown artists and genuine talents.
Like the other festivals, for sure many celebrities will also flock to Ozamiz City to join the celebration of the Subanons. The festival will be a lively end enjoyable one.
So what are you waiting for? Start your trip to this city and surely you’ll not regret going there. J
MA. DONNA ERIKA T. NAVARRO
LEYTE NORMAL UNIVERSITY- ABCommunication Intern
http://www.flyphilippines.com.ph/misamisoccidental/info.php
http://www.ozamiz.com/html/cultural.html
