By Andrews M. Calumpang, as researched from the Tanjay Catholic Church archives.

    The Sinulog is a purely Tanjay tradition. It is a religious devotional festive dance with a mock battle depicting the war between the Moors and Christians in Granada, Spain in past centuries. It is also based on the legend that St. James miraculously aided the Christians by riding on a white horse from the heavens and slew hundreds of Moors.

    Thus, the Sinulog is a religious exercise glorifying the Christians and honoring the feast day of Sr. Santiago (St. James the Greater), who is the patron saint of Tanjay and also the patron saint of Spain.

    This was first performed in Tanjay in 1814 under the auspices of the Catholic church with Fr. Fernando Felis de Zuñiga as parish priest. It then became the high-light of every fiesta celebration during the incumbency of succeeding parish priests from Fr. Pedro Bracamonte (1816-1844) to Fr, Jorge Gracacilla (1885-1889). Father Jorge Adan (1889-1898) dispensed with the Sinulog in 1887 for reasons known only to him, but then his successor, Father Baldomero Villareal (editor's note: special mention, kay ako tong Lolo Amoy!!), revived it in 1904 until the end of his term in 1929. There was no Sinulog performance for two fiestas when Fr. Gregoio Santiagudo was parish priest in 1930-1937.

    In 1932, through the initiative of a group of laymen from Tabuc (now Barangay San Isidro) and Ilaud, the Sinulog was again made a part of Tanjjay fiesta celebrations through all the years until the outbreak of World War II an annual fiesta spectacle until 1970 when most of the long-time devotee participants were already too old to perform, or had died

    In the very early 70's, this Sinulog devotion was taken over by a group of elementary school children from Ilaud under the tutelage and the management of Mr. Alfredo Garcia, and until the 1987 fiesta. the Sinulog has been a children's affair. Although the Sinulog of children at present still bears the spirit of our fiesta celebration, it is evident that they lack the right expressive movements and authenticity of the former groups which were composed of mature men.

Footwiote: Many years ago, during Imelda Marcos' "reign," our Tanjay Sinulog group (Tia Tutang was the director) was invited to perform in Manila during the National Cultural Festival. There were many special guests from around the world - among them, a team from Libya (they were in Manila to discuss supplying cheap oil for the Philippines, etc. etc.). During the rehearsals, an aide to Irnelda ning tan-aw sa performance. Tu-od tu-od kono, this aide from Malacañang approached Tia Tutang and said, "But we have special guests from Libya who are Moslems - what will they think about the finale, where the Moros are slaughtered by the Christians?" Na, di dakong problema ning Tia Tuts, kay unsa-on man tuod ug usob ang finale! Pero, for the sake of cheap oil prices for the rest of the Pinoys, ning sugot na lang kono ag atong grupo to perform the finale this way: imbis nga gipang ihaw ag mga Moros sa mga Kristyanos, naglamano na lang kono (medyo ga sampara!). Matud pa in diplomatic language, it was a negotiated settlement. Pagkahuman kono, ag mga memhers of the group nangadto dayon sa simbahan harong mangayo ug pasaylo ning Senyor Santiago! Na, it is our hope nga ma continue ang Sinulog kay eventually, the children who perform it will become "mature men," di ba?

And now, a letter from Tanjay....(thru our correspondent, Tita Tutang Limbaga)

    Your newsletter is a very laudable idea. Congratulations to those who spearheaded this! We now have a one and only hotel, which is only three houses from ours. At night, the hotel looks like a birthday cake, pero it's not yet operating; gappadala pa ug personnel sa Cebu for training.

    Truly, any Tanjayanon nga dugay na'ng wala katala dire malinga gyud. Asa ka ba ug lungsod nga ang baylehan gitung-an ug duha ka simbahan, ug ang bar na-a sa munisipyo compound. Others say it's against the law, while others say nga ma-ayo harong walay, maghubog-hubog kay andam ang presohan! Ni-ay mga katingalahan dire kay sige ang Pasko, Fiesta, ug Valentine's Day. Makakita ka ug duha ka kasing-kasing nga gituhog sa arrow nianang puno-an so acacia tree. Aduna po’y Belen bisa'g cuaresma na. In January one can see a procession of the Santo Niño every evening for nine days with Pabitin - magbitay ug mga candies, chips, bud-bud, etc. for children and adults to kab-ut after the procession. This is held in front of the munisipyo. On the ninth day the traffic is diverted kay ang provincial road in front of the market puno sa binitay.

    In August one can see the longest "Aurora" led by the Mayor. In the procession one can see all kinds of San Roque from big to small carried on the shoulders of devotees (gi-andas ang larawan ni San Roque). Ang culmination ngil-ngig kay fluvial parade sa tubig gikan so gibuangan hangtud so puente so Naga. The bridge going to Tobuc is in level with the municipal road - ka-agi-an ug jeep. It is here under the bridge nga mo-agi ang hundreds of bancas, subid- subiran all with bright lights.

Husto no usa ni, koy maliboat unyo ang imong mata pag-binasa!

Commenis: Hay, maka-mingaw jud! One can almost simhot da chokolati and da mangga!

Tanjay-USA Officers' Meeting -The meeting was held at Danny and Badingding's home (also known as the all purpose hall) mid February. Among those who attended were: Fern Teves Cruz; Zenaida Duran Bennett; Sally C. Dela Criiz; Lilian Zerna; Jimmy Zerna; Merga Mira Pongan; Ephraim Pongan; Jorge Palencia; Alice F. Calumpang, and Anesio B. Pineño. Afier Alice gave an accounting of funds, these topics were discussed: planning for the 1996 Fiesta celebration (same dance band, led by Clarissa Girasol, anak ni Tio Rufino ug Tia Condrada); Balik-Tanjay (postponed until 1997); Medical Mission (cancelled, until further notice); collection of old clothes and toys (projected shipment date is July 1996; we have a Tanjayanon who will help us singit these items in a commercial shipment to Manila). Letters from Basilia Ramirez and Dr. Enting Batiancila were read, and it was announced that many checks for membership dues were received in the mail, and that flowers were sent for the Malahay funeral.

REMINDERS:

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET THE USED CLOTHING AND USED BOOKS CAMPAIGN. PLEASE SEND THEM TO US AND WHEN WE HAVE SUFFICIENT BULK WE WILL SEND THE LOT VIA CONTAINER TO TANJAY.

PLEASE SEND IN YOUR ARTICLES, LETTERS, PHOTOS, AND OTHER ITEMS FOR INCLUSION IN THE NEXT ISSUES. ·