GINATILAN, CEBU – After a prolonged absence of more than a decade, the Hinatdan Festival made a much-awaited comeback on March 7, and Gov. Gwen Garcia would not miss it for the world.
After leading the Caravan of Government Services in Ronda some 70 kilometers away, Gov. Gwen, with Board Member Glenn Soco and her daughter Carissa, went all the way to this town located near the southernmost tip of Cebu to join in the festivities in honor of St. Gregory the Great, the town’s patron saint.
“Bisag taas kaayo ang akong adlaw ron, di gyod mahimo nga di ko moari diri,” Gov. Gwen said. “You have come back with a big bang!” she added, noting that the town last had their festival showcase in 2012 during the last year of her third term in office.
Six festival contingents from six high schools here battled it out before a jam-packed Ginatilan Millennium Park, showcasing local pride and tradition in performances that highlighted what it meant to be a Cebuano in Ginatilan.
Gov. Gwen announced that the Capitol would help the local government of Ginatilan, led by Mayor Roy Vincent Singco, in its socio-cultural programs by extending an aid worth P2 million.
Moreover, the six participating contingents from the 14 barangays of the town would each receive P200,000 as subsidy to help organizers defray the cost of expenses.
Mayor Cinco thanked the Governor for her unwavering support to the town, especially the assistance provided for infrastructure which he had received earlier during the Caravan in Ronda.
During the said Caravan of Services in Ronda, the Capitol distributed a total of P120.7 million in infrastructure aid to the eight LGUs of the seventh district which include Ginatilan. In fact, Ginatilan received the highest allocation, amounting to P15.8 million, which would fund the infrastructure projects of the town.
Inspired by the etymology of this town’s name, “Hinatdan” — from the Cebuano word “hatod”, meaning “to bring” — the festival highlights Ginatilan’s abundant natural blessings, strong community spirit, and deep devotion. As the believed birthplace of San Pedro Calungsod, Ginatilan remains a beacon of faith and progress. | BJR