MAASIN CITY (PIA) — The local government of Maasin City is preparing for the Sakay-Sakay Festival, which will be held on Sunday, January 19, coinciding with Cebu’s Sinulog.
Atty. Chen Abrea, city tourism officer, announced that cash prizes will be awarded to winners in each category, highlighting the city’s culture and traditions.
“Sakay-Sakay” is a Bisaya term that means riding. When used in the sense of the festival, it refers to a fluvial parade or procession in the seawaters fronting the stretch of the city’s coastal barangays, starting at the port area in the afternoon of January 19.
The activity is being held as a tribute in honor of Sr. Sto. Niño, taking place every third Sunday of January for decades.
The categories and their corresponding cash prizes are as follows:
Banca Category
- 1st Prize – P40,000
- 2nd Prize – P30,000
- 3rd Prize – P20,000
- Consolation Prizes: P10,000
Pumpboat Category
- 1st Prize – P15,000
- 2nd Prize – P10,000
- 3rd Prize – P5,000
- Consolation Prizes: P2,500
Higante Category
- 1st Prize – P15,000
- 2nd Prize – P12,000
- 3rd Prize – P9,000
- Consolation- P7,000
Coastal Decor Category
- 1st Prize – P8,000
- 2nd Prize – P6,000
- 3rd Prize – P5,000
- Consolation Prizes: P2,000
Kids Costume Category
- 1st Prize – P3,500
- 2nd Prize – P2,500
- 3rd Prize – P1,500
- Consolation Prizes: P500
Potpot Decor Category
- 1st Prize – P10,000
- 2nd Prize – P8,000
- 3rd Prize – P5,000
- Consolation Prizes: P3,000
Entries from participating groups will be accepted until January 15.
According to Lorraine Acasio, the city’s information officer, the Sakay-Sakay Festival is not merely a competition but a platform to showcase participants’ talents, creativity, and initiative. (MMP, PIA Southern Leyte with reports from Lorraine Acasio, City Information Officer)