Padul-Ong Festival

History of Borongan

Borongan is a province of Eastern Samar, Philippines. It is located along the middle coastal part of the province of Eastern Samar. It is a city facing the deep vast ocean called the Pacific Ocean. The city is subdivided into 61 barangays. The name Borongan was taken from the local word “borong“, which in the Waray-Waray language means “fog”.

Borongan City is a place known for its breathtaking sunrise and sunset view along the shore of Barangay Baybay, Borongan. It is known for its beautiful beaches and islands. Tourists are fond of going there to experience surfing and even skim boarding.

History of Padul-Ong Festival

A mythical presentation of how the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary was mysteriously transported to Borongan from Portugal and its connection to the Lady in White who frequented the Hamorawon Spring and caused its water to miraculously heal the locals.  The festival is held in line with the celebration of the Fiesta of Borongan City. Padul-Ong festival got its name from the waray-waray word “dul-ong” which means send or deliver. Every 7th of September the Hermano’s bring the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary from Barangay Punta Maria to Rawis Port where the parade officialy starts.

Padul-Ong Festival

Padul-Ong festival is celebrated by the Boronganons every 8th of September to pay homage to its Patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The festival commemorates the day they received the image of Mary after it was shipped by a mysterious lady from Portugal. (See story here: http://msgrlope.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-padul-ong-festival-of-borongan.html) My grandmother would always tell me the story of the mysterious girl who brought the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary from Portugal to the Philippines and how the Padul-Ong festival started. Every September 7, Borongan City celebrates an early morning mass in a old-fashioned chapel at Barangay Punta Maria. The mass signifies that the Padul-ong Festival has start of the festival. From the chapel, the small image of the Blessed Virgin Mary is transferred to Rawis Port. The first part of the festival which usually starts at 5:00  in the morning is the procession where boat owners can join along with the official boat carrier of the small image across Rawis Bay. The image is then paraded through the town going to Borongan Cathedral.

Fluvial parade from Barangay Punta Maria to Rawis Port (Credits to Sherwin Aquino)

Credits to Ryograph Photography

At the Borongan City plaza, you can watch the reenactment of the transportation of the Blessed Virgin Mary from Portugal that was brought by a mysterious lady. It tells the town’s old legend on how the image was brought to the Philippines.

Credits to Reginald James Lorico

I remember waking up every morning of September 7 to a loud bang from the drums that were continuously being played. My parents and my siblings would go out of our house and adore the beautiful outfits that were worn by the people dancing that were part of the parade. The people of Borongan would always wait for this day to come where the streets are flooded with colourful floats while they chant, “Viva Nuestra Señora de la Natividad!” which means Our Lady of the Nativity, to give “pugay” to the Blessed Virgin Mary which is the patron saint of Borongan City.

Credits to Ryograph Photogrphy

Credits to Abdel Elecho

Here’s a short glimpse of the Padul-Ong festival celebrated by the Boronganons every 7th-8th of September.

PADUL-ONG FESTIVAL 2015 by David DavePanaguitonFilms. Published on Oct 19, 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD3_3Ag1ESQ

Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borongan

http://www.tourism.gov.ph/sitepages/FestivitiesList.aspx?festivityCode=486&monthCode=09

http://www.choosephilippines.com/do/festivals/4567/borongan-padul-ong-festival

Photos: Go Borongan on Facebook