TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija – A series of activities, highlighted by a colorful street dance showdown, was staged as thanksgiving and in honor of farmers in this mostly agricultural municipality at the Talavera Nation High School parade ground on Feb. 27.
Dubbed as Hugas Kalawang (washing away rust) Festival, the events pertain to farmers’ tradition of going to rivers, creeks or irrigation canals to clean up tools and wash their own bodies and clothes after planting rice.
“Ang dahilan po ng festival na ito ay ang ating mga magsasaka dahil ang hugas kalawang hindi lang basta selebrasyon. Ito po ay isang paalala na sa likod ng bawat ani natin, ng bawat butil na inihahain sa ating hapag ay may mga kamay na nag-aararo ng lupa, may mga paa na lumulusong sa putikan, may mga puso na naniniwala na ang bawat binhi na itinatanim nila ay pag-asa,” said Mayor Aries Vincent Lim in his message to participants and spectators.
The dance showdown, participated by at least 15 institutions including farmers’ groups and cooperatives and schools, depicts the culture of farming, from the hardwork in land plowing or land preparation, to fun in rice planting to the festive mood during harvest.
It also featured the heartbreaking events of disasters but above all the farmers’ resilience to overcome such events by the grace of God through the intercession of the town’s patron saint, San Isidro Labrador.
Lim said Hugas Kalawang was also a thanksgiving. “Sa bawat hirap at pangamba meron tayong kinabukasan, sa bawat araw ng pagtitiyaga meron tayong biyaya na nagmumula sa Diyos.”
This municipality, which is geared towards becoming a city, is one of the largest territories in Nueva Ecija with 53 barangays inhabited by at least 137,444 residents (2024 census).
At least 8,000 hectares of its land area are devoted to agriculture being attended by some 5,000 farmers, reports said.
Lim expressed hope the festival will be able to impart, especially to the youth, the noble role that agriculture and farmers play in the overall progress of the municipality.
“Nawa po ay maukit sa ating mga puso na ang pagtatanim ay hindi lamang gawain ng ating mga kamay dahil ito din po ay misyon ng ating puso dahil bawat binhi na ating inaalagaan ay itinatanim natin ang pag-asa at kinabukasan at ang patuloy na pag-angat ng ating mahal na bayan ng Talavera,” said the local chief executive.
Nueva Ecija Provincial Tourism Office chief Mara San Pedro lauded the event saying “when the municipality honors its roots, it becomes stronger, more confident and more united.”
“Hugas Kalawang Festival is not just about washing away rust, it is about our commitment to community, to agriculture and to one another,’ she said. Photos: Armand Galang
