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As mentioned in my blogpost– Jagna Festival: Sinoog Estokada a War Dance I have some things in mind not just about the Sinoog Estokada festival but to our Jagnaaon culture.
My goal for this post is a call to everyone to help preserve the culture we have and let the next generations witness the beauty of Jagnaaonon culture.

1. There are 33 barangay’s of Jagna. Three (3) well established private highschools, a bunch of public highschools and a number of public elemenatry schools but why are there only 5 participating contingents?

I believe that a community to be progressive, we do not leave everything to the government, particularly the local government. We need to help in order for the community to move forward. It would be much lively if there would be more contingents in the Sinoog Estokada. Would you not be happy seeing your son and daughter performing on stage?

Three private schools, where are the others? Enhancing academics is a very good thing, but is it not enriching to develop the other aspect of the students. I don’t want to lecture about intelligence because I am not an authority about this but an education friend told me once that there are at least 6 human intelligence of a person; academics is one of them and other includes music, art, social, logic- – would you want me to keep going?

Where is the cultural spirit Department of Education – I still remember elementary days when everyone in school both students and teachers are busy preparing for the fiesta, Teachers night and students field demonstration, that was before Estokada and then later on Estokada.

I believe that it is the education’s sector who must instill in the mind and heart of all Jagnaanon children the culture that we have and what is an effective way to do it but to participate in the activity. I know that the school alone cannot do it that’s why there is what we call Parents Teachers Association (PTA). This organization is built to assist teachers in every way for the betterment of the pupils and students and not just to ask for funds to build new or renovate classrooms because in the first place the government has allotted budget for those things.

Dear parents, you should realize by now that there is more than just sitting in classroom and listening to teachers lecture. Don’t get me wrong, I am a great believer of education but I don’t believe that a child can get it in classroom’s alone. Let’s say there are things in life in which students cannot learn inside the classroom and when are we teaching them those things?

You may just see your daughter dancing on stage, but what you did not see is the growth of your child’s confidence and confidence is one important factor in life to be successful. Most successful people are oozing with confidence, and children would not get it just by listening to lectures but by doing things they can be proud of and by practicing them to face to people, perhaps performing on stage during Sinoog Estokada.

2. Musicality – I believe that we have a Sinoog Estokada jingle. Why not utilize the music. It was nicely written and very pleasing to hear. Well, it is not really mandatory that every festival has its own music but isn’t it attractive if Estokada will have its own signature jingle? Well if this would not be possible at least screened participant’s music to avoid too vulgar lyrics and to use proper choice of music.

The following are my humble suggestion for the next Sinoog Estokada.

1. More participants hopefully.

2. One signature music if not festival feel music.

3. Best St. Michael the Archangel – I have seen that all contingents have prepared well their St. Michael the Archangel, why not give credit to the best. If other places have their festival queen and king then why don’t we have our St. Michael the Archangel?

4. Sinoog Estokada Photo Contest – I have observed that there are now photography enthusiast in town, why dont we let them participate in a photo contest. These people do photos for passion and not for money so whatever the prize maybe I am pretty sure that a lot of people would want to join (Of course there must be a registration fee to separate those really interested from those who are just playing around). This can also be a good source of advertising for our little town because I am sure that people who will join in this contest will post photos in social media (Facebook,google+,twitter,instagram and pintrest).

5. Ms. Jagna – I know this is not part of Sinoog Estokada but I would really want to watch again the collection of beauty and brains of Jagnaanon. There are many sleeping Megan Young in Jagna if they are just given an opportunity.

In totality, I would really want to preserve the culture that we had. I am afraid that the fun of fiesta celebration will fade and together with it our culture. I hope that the culture that our ancestors have built will remain because this is the only legacy we can leave to our children whatever economic crises we are facing.

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Meet geemiz

Geezelle Maningo - A Cebu based travel blogger and the other half of GeeMiz Travel blog. She has been traveling around the Philippines and Asia since 2010 with her husband. A casual trekker/hiker since 2017 and has been blogging since 2008. A digital marketer during workdays and a bookworm on lazy days - she co-founded Cebu Book Club.

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