Who could’ve forgotten the historical event that happened in Limasawa, Southern Leyte?

Limasawa is a 6th class municipality and an island of the same name in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines.

Through time, I was taught of how the famous Portuguese leader Ferdinand Magellan happened to come to the Philippines to give way for the Christianity in the country. On March 31, 1521, in the little island of Limasawa, the first mass was held on the Philippine soil. It was then participated by the people of the island especially the chieftains, Raia Kulambo and Raia Siaui.

Two days earlier before the first mass, another historical event was held in Limasawa wherein Raia Kulambo and Ferdinand Magellan had entered into a brotherhood pact called “ kasi-kasi”. It was then again that Limasawa was recorded as the first site for the treaty of brotherhood between the Philippines and the West.

Nowadays, people of Southern, Leyte still pay tribute to these two historical events that happened in Limasawa, especially the first mass held. In the annual fiesta of Brgy. Magallanes at the island of Limasawa, they celebrate the Sinugdan Festival every 31^st of March.

There are no basic steps and beats in the celebration of this festival. Movements are free and are inclined to jazz and contemporary dancing, as long as it will portray the re-enactment of the first mass in the island.

Come and join the celebration and I promise you, you will definitely go back to Leyte.

References: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=56972

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ferdinand_edralin/2388339187/