Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat - Hinabyog Festival

Hinabyog Festival

Esperanza celebrated the very first Hinabyog festival last November 2005. The word "Hinabyog" translates to the English word "Swayed". This resembles to the idea of a "Bamboo swing" or more likely to be a hammock made in bamboo wood, which are very popular in the place.

Hinabyog festival was celebrated by showing different kinds of Bamboo swing/hammock and showing the importance of it. The celebration is likely to be started by a parade of "Drum and Lyre Corps" from schools all over Esperanza. Parades of hired Kings and Queens of the festival is also entered. And the most important part of the celebration is the Hinabyog Dance competition.

The participants for the competitions must be performed by students from schools around the municipality. The Hinabyog Dance Competition is themed by tribal music and dance steps. It is also being referenced to the Bamboo hammocks which mainly being used as props for the dance. Music comes from a group of drummers which must also come from the school.

Unfortunately, in the first Hinabyog Dance Competition, only two schools have entered. The Notre Dame of Esperanza Inc. (NDEi) and The Esperanza National Highschool (ENHS). ENHS have entered three entries for the competition, while NDEi have only given one. Although the stakes are high for the NDEi entry to win, they still managed to win the competition. The winner of the competition is automatically entered for the "Kalimudan Festival" or "The Festival of All Festivals" held in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat to represent Esperanza and to compete against other municipalities. Which luckily, they have managed to win from and beating the 12 other competitors.