Bonga Festival is a form of thanksgiving for all the blessings and graces Sibonganhons received from Sta. Filomena and Our Lady of Pilar especially for the abundant fruits found in the town.
“Bunga” is a Cebuano word, which means fruit in English.
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| NUESTRA SENORA DEL PILAR |
During the month of August, the people of Sibonga celebrate their Bonga Festival – coming from the word “fruit”, from the original betel nut, “bonga” has expanded to mean harvest. This festival is to give honor to the town’s patron saints, Our Lady of Pilar and Santa Filomena. Highlighted with beautiful street dancing and ritual competition, the Bonga Festival is a form of thanksgiving not only to their patron saints but also to Christ for giving them abundant harvests.
The whole intention of the festival is for the Sibonganons to become united in an advocacy to let their fellow Sibonganons realize that fruits, such as mangoes, bananas, papaya, and cereals, are very important, not only for the daily sustenance of the populace but also to the economy of the town.
Since Sibonga heavily relies on agriculture for living, the citizens of Sibonga unite in the practice of celebrating the importance of their harvest because without it, they would probably die because of hunger. The Bonga Festival is the way to show us all that Sibonganons rely heavily on Agriculture for their living.
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