"Filipinos, beloved countrymen! Let us never destroy our precious rights because their loss will be our death and shame. Even if we do not have a single rifle, if all the towns will refuse to surrender, with one mind and one heart, the Americans will be ashamed to subjugate or kill us all. If this is the fate that will be ours, you will be greater, Filipinas, than all the nations!” General Martin Teofilo Delgado, the Ilonggo revolutionary leader and Filipino nationalist penned the previous lines with pride and high hopes for the nation. Popularly known as Tan Martin, he was responsible for the start of the revolution against the Spaniards, and later the Americans in Iloilo. With his leadership and gallantry, his hometown of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo is known to be the seat of revolution in the Visayas and Mindanao and where the first Philippine flag was raised outside Luzon.
Standing proud, the GMTD Monument at the plaza of his hometown, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo
His bravery and heroics are not just on textbooks but celebrated annually during the Cry of Sta. Barbara and Kahilwayan Festival on Nov. 17. These celebrations don’t only make every Sta. Barbaranhons proud of their heritage but also garners a lot of recognition for the town. During the last decade, Tribu Kahilwayan depicts the bravery of its people in a cultural and acrobatic performance that earned top honors in festivals like Dinagyang (Kasadyahan) and Aliwan.
Kahilwayan Festival
The trophy for the Best Festival
But this year’s celebrations will have a broader and wider scope as it will included a once in a lifetime event, not to mention the first and only one. This year the town honors it’s most illustrious son with a celebration dubbed as “Triple 11 for Tan Martin”. Nov. 11, 2011 marks his 153rd birth anniversary and as 11-11-11 comes just once every millennium, Sta. Barbara gives GMTD a ten-day event of historical and cultural significance befitting that of one of the greatest Philippine revolucionarios.
Schedule of Activities
“Triple 11 for Tan Martin” Celebration
NOV. 11 FRIDAY
- 5:00 am Diana around town
- 7:00 am Concelebrated mass (Sta. Barbara Parish church)
- 8:30 am Flag raising (Municipal flag pole area)
- Triple 11 for Tan Martin Opening Ceremony
- Wreath laying (Gen. Martin T. Delgado monument)
- 9:00 am Triple 11 for Tan Martin Birth Anniversary Commemoration
- (Don Herminio Maravilla Memorial Cultural and Recreational Center-DHMMCRC)
- 10:00am Opening of the Gen. Martin T. Delgado Exhibit (Ms. Letty Delgado residence)
- 2:00 pm Public viewing of the GMTD Exhibit
- 3:00 pm Exhumation of the remains of Gen. Martin T. Delgado (Sta. Barbara Catholic cemetery)
- 6:00 pm Vigil and public viewing (Sta. Barbara municipal hall)
- Intertown Choral competition (DHMMCRC)
NOV. 12 SATURDAY
- 5:30 am Fun Run around town
- 8:30 am Concelebrated mass (Sta. Barbara Parish church)
- 1000 am Procession around town in full regalia and military honors
- 1200 nn Reinterment of Gen. Martin T. Delgado's remains at the GMTD monument
- 1:00 pm Weekend market (Sta. Barbara bandstand)
- 3:00 pm Fun match dog show with the Pitbull Club of Iloilo (DHMMCRC)
- 7:00 pm Miss Kahilwayan 2011 Pre Pageant night
NOV. 13 SUNDAY
- 7:00 am Tree planting activity
- 9:00 am Car and Motor show (Sta. Barbara plaza)
- 2:00 pm Boxing matches (DHMMCRC)
NOV. 14 MONDAY
- 8:00 am Flag raising ceremony (Iloilo Provincial Capitol grounds)
- 9:00 am Opening of GMTD Exhibit and Cultural Presentation (Iloilo Provincial Capitol lobby)
NOV. 15 TUESDAY
- 9:00 am Workshop on Genealogy and Biography Writing (Iloilo Provincial Capitol)
NOV. 16 WEDNESDAY
- 9:00 am Workshop on Creative Writing (Sta. Barbara ABC Hall)
- 5:00 am Opening of Food Festival along Roosevelt Street
- 8:00 pm Live band performances (DHMMCRC)
NOV. 17 THURSDAY
- 7:00 am Concelebrated mass (Sta. Barbara Parish church)
- 8:30 am Flag raising (Municipal flag pole area)
- Cry of Sta. Barbara re-enactment
- 9:00 am KAHILWAYAN FESTIVAL Celebration (DHMMCRC and football grounds)
- 1000 am Drum and Glockenspiel Competition
- 1200 nn Lunch for the Cry of Sta. Barbara heroes descendants and guests
- 1:00 pm Mayor's Cup Golf Tournament (Iloilo Golf and Country Club)
- Laro ng Lahi (DHMMCRC and football grounds)
- 4:00 pm Heritage Ride along the Sta. Barbara heritage zones
- 6:00 pm Life of Tan Martin: A One-act Play (Sta. Barbara Parish church frontage)
- 9:00 pm Live band performances (DHMMCRC)
NOV. 18 FRIDAY
- 9:00 am Workshop on Photography (Sta. Barbara ABC Hall)
- 1:00 pm Quiz Bee (DHMMCRC)
- 7:00 pm Miss Kahilwayan 2011 Coronation Night (DHMMCRC)
NOV. 19 SATURDAY
- 9:00 am Opening of Local Artists Art Exhibit (Tesda Hall)
- Art Appreciation Workshop
- 1st Sepak Takraw Tournament (Sta. Barbara bandstand area)
- 1:00 pm Weekend market (Sta. Barbara bandstand)
- 7:00 pm Talent and Fashion Show (Municipal flag pole area)
- 8:00 pm Live band performances (DHMMCRC)
NOV. 20 SUNDAY
- 5:00 am Juego de Anillo and Cycling (Sta. Barbara plaza)
- AM/PM Sepak Takraw tournament / Football games / DOTA Tournament
- 8:00 pm Live band Closing performances (DHMMCRC)
NOV. 21 MONDAY
- 7:00 am Flag raising ceremony
- Triple 11 for Tan Martin Closing Ceremony
Photos c/o Sta. Barbara Ugyon Facebook and www.habagatcentral.com