Jinawa Festival 2009 (Video)

NOTE: This story was originally posted in this site last Nov. 18, 2009 without the videos.

For several years the Local Government of Gigaquit had been staging Jinawa plays. This originated many years ago as amusement for the local ancestors of the municipality and the Spanish priests. A traditional cultural show performed by Gigaquitnons through a play with dances and music. It had been the usual practice of performing Jinawa during the festivity of the town every 28th day of August honoring Patron St. Augustine

Recently, the Tourism Council decided to make it as a separate stand alone festival instead of being part of the fiesta celebration. November 1 was chosen as the official schedule of the event due to the play's relevance to souls/spirits.

Last November 1, 2009 the 2nd Jinawa Festival was held at Doot Beach, Gigaquit, Surigao Del Norte (the first was last November 1, 2008). There were entertaining performances from the two (2) barangays in the town proper . . . barangays Alambique and Ipil. These are very supportive communities headed by their active barangay captains. The street dancing started at exactly 5PM and went around the town proper. The general public positively responded. The participants with "evil" costumes caught the attention of the audience. The performers were given cash gifts for being participative and for sharing talents and efforts for the sake of the town's traditional folklore.