• biggrin Save me, Big One!
    Every damsel in distress wants someone who could save her from a big trouble and to protect her from any danger ahead. We have heard about the princesses and their princes charming. There is Jasmine and Alladin, also Ariel and Prince Eric, Princess Barbie and Prince Ken in a series of fairy tales and of course, who would forget Fiona and Shrek? But this story does not talk about a damsel in distress and a prince charming.
    Miagao is a place full of culture and history. But somewhere in between these is a story I could pretty much relate to the stories of the prince and princesses mentioned above. Moving back to the times of the municipal’s struggle against the Moros is a protector that helped a lot to make Miagao the way it is right now.
    There are these big human figures done by the ancestors of the Octaviano family decades ago that helped protect the municipality of Miagao. They were lined up on the shore line when there was a Salakay from the Moros. The people of Miagao were alert and they bring out their saviors, their protector and their aide against the danger of invasion. For so many years, these nig human figures became the primary defense of the municipality against enemies. The Moros were afraid to come across Miagao because they thought that the people in this place are big and they are no match for these people. These big human figures was a strategy by the residents and “they” became the savior of the municipality of Miagao. They are the “Higantes”.
    The savior of the municipality and the protector of the people- Higantes is a big part of the history and culture of Miagao. During the Spanish era, these giants were paraded along the shoreline as a part of thanksgiving after the fish harvest season. They were marched outside for the people to see and to be entertainment for the children. This is where the practice of Higantes parade came from.
    The parade of the Higantes has been a part of the Salakayan festival of Miagao 4 years after the introduction of the said festival. The huge replicas of human figures prepared by different participating barangays were paraded and made a contest of the most creative one. However, this custom has been continuing for so many years and the peak of the excitement has been reached because of too much exposure and repetition.
    Is this the time to call the Higantes to save the tourism of Miagao? For the year 2009, Salakayan festival has something in store for these Higantes to shine again. Wondering? Just stop by the plaza to see what’s new this February 14, 2008. Maybe you yourself would be amazed enough to call out to the Higantes and say: “Save me, Big One!”