Sakay-Sakay Festival 2024
an expression of gratitude and devotion
to our Batang Balaan Senyor Sto. Niño de Maasin
VIVA PIT SENYOR!
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Sakay-Sakay Festival of MAASIN CITY - is a cultural and religious festival in the city of Maasin, Southern Leyte, Philippines every third Sunday of January. It is held as an expression of gratitude and devotion to Sto. Niño.
The city has been conducting an annual observance of the feast of Sto. Niño every year. It is a localized version of the Sinulog Festival of Cebu and shares the same faith for the Child Jesus, the Sto. Niño.
The story of the Holy Child’s arrival in the Philippines began with the start of the colonization by Spain. Ferdinand Magellan presented the image upon the baptism of natives in Cebu led by its leader Rajah Humabon and his wife Hara Humamay.
The image was found again in 1565 when the expedition of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi landed in the island. Devotees of the Child Jesus have grown in number throughout the archipelago ever since.
Sakay-Sakay Festival of Maasin City is a maritime event through the fluvial procession for the annual fiesta of the Holy Child. Its religious activities are organized by the Diocese of Maasin such as novena, mass, and procession.
In 2021, the images of Sto. Niño de Ibarra (Ibarra is a village in Maasin) and Sto. Niño de Limasawa (Limasawa is the site of the first recorded Roman Catholic mass in the country and located off the southern tip of Southern Leyte) were brought on to seagoing vessels in a fluvial parade in an act of blessing the waters and shorelines of the city.
Meanwhile, the city government organizes the festival events. In the early 2000s, the city participated in Sinulog Festival in Cebu and it had shifted focus in developing its own festivity in the latter years.
These include competitions in street dancing, coastal decoration, sailboat (banca) decorations, motorized boats (pumpboat) decoration, and giant puppets (higante).
How to reach Maasin City, Southern Leyte? Ferry schedules are open from neighboring islands of Cebu and Bohol. Alternatively, one can travel to Tacloban Airport and travel by bus, which is about four hours away in a trip that covers over 180 kilometers.
(c) - Festivalscape - festivalscape.com
References:
Ma. Rebecca G. Cadavos. Maasin City calls for entries for ‘Sakay-Sakay Festival 2020’. Philippine Information Agency. January 15, 2020. Retrieved from original post on December 27, 2022
R.G. Cadavos. Maasin highlights “Sakay-Sakay” Festival in honor of Sto. Niño. Philippine Information Agency. January 4, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2022
Sakay-Sakay Festival in Maasin City a success despite rains. SunStar. January 18, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2022
City Gov’t of Maasin. Office of the Press Secretary. January 14, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2022
Editorial: The Sto. Niño story. Sunstar. January 19, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2022 Sakay-Sakay Festival
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22nd Cityhood Anniversary Photobook can now be viewed online! 
(please click on any of the photos to view)
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For the past two years, we scaled down our Cityhood Anniversary celebration because we could not afford to have a grand merriment while we were confronted with a challenging situation as we fight against COVID-19 that has become a serious threat to public health.
Today, with the easing of restrictions, I am beaming with joy and gladness that we get to celebrate our #Ajonay Festival 2022.
My warmest congratulations to the following winners:
𝐑𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
1st - The College of Maasin
2nd - Saint Joseph College
3rd - Guadalupe National High School
𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 - Saint Joseph College
𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 - The College of Maasin
𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐞 - The College of Maasin
𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐲 - The College of Maasin
Our Pabulhon 2022 (Agri-Aqua Fair & Garden Show) is one of a kind. It gives an opportunity to our farmers from our barangays to exhibit their agricultural and fishery products. This agri-fair is not only an opportunity for our farmers to display their products but it also helps the farmers to expand their markets.
The trade features a variety of products such as local delicacies, agricultural products (root crops, bananas, and fruits), plant ornaments, and native products from their respective barangays and fishery products. This expo also underlines the importance of investments in agriculture as a way of pushing our city’s recovery amidst the pandemic and natural calamities.
Let us support all the sellers in our Pabulhon. I am inviting everyone to come and see to yourself the offerings in all the booths in our Pabulhon.
The City Government of Maasin, thru our City Investment Promotions and Tourism Office (CIPTO), conducted the opening program for the Maasin City Tourism Week, as part of the 22nd Cityhood Anniversary Celebrations.
We have a long line of activities including a) local food exhibit, b) photo exhibit, c) brochure entries display, d) on-the-spot slogan and poster-making contest, and e) Ajonay Kid’s Singing Contest for everyone to enjoy.
We likewise had the Ajonay Children’s Fun Games organized by our City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO). Let’s have a happy and meaningful anniversary!
MONTE CUEVA
Falls & Cave
JALLECA HILLS
Espina Boulevard
