Consolacion, Cebu - Sarok Festival

Sarok Festival

The Sarok Festival is celebrated on Consolacion's foundation day. Sarok is a hat made of bamboo strips and dried banana leaves. Sarok Festival a mardi-gras of colorful parade and street dancing along the main road of Consolacion was previously celebrated every 14 February in commemoration of Consolacion founding anniversary. Now, it takes place every 29 October together with the town's annual festival. Participants of the Sarok Festival wear colorful sarok of creative designs. The main attraction of this festival is the Sarok, is a native hat used by the farmers to protect them from the heat of the sun. It made of bamboo, nipa leaves, and banana leaves. It is cool to wear on sunny days and when your relaxing on the ocean. It is also their main livelihood of Barangay Tulotulo. This festival is in honor their patron, Saint San Narciso.

History: To protect farmers and folk from the sun and the rain, the sarok, a conical hat made from bamboo strips and dried banana leaves, becomes the needed fad for the people of Consolacion. The festival was traditionally celebrated every 14 February to coincide with its charter day celebrations. However, the Sarok Festival evolved into a free interpretation dance, with the musical concept inspired from the Miligoy de Cebu, a published Filipino folk dance originating from the same place. The festival is now celebrated in October.