It is more fun in the Lemery
In the northern
part of the Iloilo province is a small town that we call today as Lemery. The
place is surrounded with mountain ranges and these mountain ranges are full of
verdant thick tall trees. This are a is situated along the border of Iloilo and
Capiz provinces. It is surrounded with the towns of Sara, Ajuy, Barotac Viejo
and San Rafael in Iloilo and the towns of Dumarao, Maayon and Pontevedra in
Capiz. Lemery was created from the barrios of Agpipili, Alcantara, Almeñana,
Anabo, Bankal, Buenavista, Cabantohan, Capiñahan, Dalipe, Dapdapan, Gerongan
,Imbaulan, Layogbato, Marapal, Milan, Nagsulang, Omio, Pacuan, Poblacion North
West Zone, Poblacion South East Zone, Pontoc,
San Antonio, San Diego, San Jose, Sepanton, Sincua , Tabunan, Tugas,
Velasco and Yawyawan. Lemerehon have a common livelihood lifestyle in order to survive.
The language that is used by Lemerenhon is Hiligaynon. Agriculture was most
occupation of the people there. They are also raising livestock. Because its
mountainous is, they cleared the land to use it for agriculture. They planted
it rice, corns and other crops. Some are selling coals as there source of
income. In terms of progression of these town, there’s so many establishment
was build. The public market, public plaza/ auditorium, children’s playground
was fully developed by the help of local government.
During the Spanish
colonial period, only a few people live in this area. Most of them lived near
the foothills of the highest mountain, there is one which stood out among the
rest as the tallest and the biggest tree. This is called the “Lawaan” wood. At
night especially if there is no moonlight the tree is beautiful to look at
seems like a huge Christmas tree that shines through darkness. The elders
gathered to give a name for their place. They unanimously name for their “
Lamenaria” referring to the tallest and biggest tree of Lawaan. They call it
Lamenaria because at night the lawaan tree is like a light for the locals due
to the fireflies which gathered at the tree. Because of this, they call the
palce Lamenaria. Through the passing of time and due to the increasing of
population coming to Lamenaria the name Lamenaria became Lameri probably due to
the length of the name and difficulty in pronouncing or due to wrong
pronunciation. Shortly after, Lameri become Lemery which become the official
name until now. Another story behind the origin of the name of the place, the
word Lemery was derived from the names Le Me Re.
Lemerenhons celebrated town fiesta every 28th day if January. It was called “ Saug Festival”. “ Saug Festival” portraying what kind of livelihood they have and thanksgiving to God fof all the blessings they received. The “bayanihan” was also practiced until now a days Lemery is one of the progressive town in “Quinto Distrito” at Iloilo Province. Saug whose cognate term in English “to haul” means to move object laid on bamboo sledge Karosa hitched on a draft animal like carabao is definitive symbol of the mode of production and cultural heritage of Lemerenhon. Saug festival is a genuine reflection of lemery historical part, an objective measure in evaluation the present and a spring of information in charting in the future of every Lemerenhon. This saug festival helps people to motivate to join in celebrating the fiesta in honor of Sr. Santo Nino. Every year the people come in the covered Gym just to witness all the program during that fiesta and some of them join in dancing just to show their unity as one community.
THE CHOSEN BARANGAY
Poblacion South East Zone is one of the thirty- one barangays in the
Municipality of Lemery and is found at the Northern part of Iloilo. It is
governed by Barangay Captain Cherryl Ventura Peniero-Olanda with her Barangay
Councilors, Nelson Paja, Edgardo Elegino, Judelyn Cacho, and four others. A
total of 6, 544 people live in this barangay which composes 745 households and
a total land area of 252 hectares.
Poblacion South
East Zone is the most progressive barangay in the Municipality of Lemery. The
Municipal Hall, Municipal Gym, Municipal Auditorium, Municipal Plaza, the
Public Market, the Roman Catholic Church, Espia Inland Resort, and the Lemery
National High School are located at this barangay. For now, the Espia Inland
Resort is the most visited place in this municipality even in the 5th
district. Poblacion South East Zone is one of the participating barangays of
“Tribu Hamungaya” with the other barangays: barangay Cabantohan, Tabunan, and
Dapdapan. They won as the Champion during the 115th Saug Festival
Culture Base Dance Competition.
Barangay Captain
Peniero also went to Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, South Korea for a seminar
together with the officers from PhilSaemaulUndong (PSMU) to make a stronger
PSMU towards changing communities. The chief guest and seminar paper presenter
was Professor Dr. SO, Jin Kwang, the
President of Saemaul Undong Center, Republic of
Korea. 152 participants including Faculty Members of BARD, Upazila Officials of Bangladesh Rural
Development Board (BRDB), Teachers of Comilla University, BCS Health Cader
Officials, Officials Bakhrabad Gas System Ltd., Community Leaders, Cooperative
Officials attended the seminar.
THE SCHOOL OF LEMERENHONS, THE LEMERY NATIONAL HIGH
SCHOOL
We know that everybody is thinking to be in a good school. Well, it’s not a big problem to us Lemerenhons. We have our school the Lemery National High School.The LNHS was a farm before owned by Hon. Lowel T. Arban and was bought and now a school. A principal was then assigned to bring the school into success. Maria Luisa Asong is the principal of LNHS for almost 20 years. Right when LNHS existed. The Lemery National High School is now in service for more than 20 years. It is located in Poblacion South East Zone Lemery, Iloilo.
We have our teachers, who can teach their students
well, with us. Our school is always represented by students, who are talented,
and brings home the bacon in their contests. Of course, it is because they have
the gift, which was knowledge, and was trained well by their teachers. As we
can see, the LNHS have thousands of students, and that makes our school even
look better. The students are all willing to learn and it’s a great opportunity
for the school.The school have three double stories and many classrooms, which
is occupied by one section each room.There’s no way that no one will be
comfortable to learn and be trained well. We also have our computer room with
lots of computers, where students, who were studying electronics, can study about
computers. And a bakery, where students bake for their TLE or cookery. LNHS is
also surrounded by lots of plants and trees, which gives us fresh air and not
carbon dioxide, to breathe. And a mango tree, which was big, at the center of
the school. The school is also rich in signal, which helps the student do a
research or post their projects faster, online.We also have our school canteen,
where us, students, can buy safe foods, a washing area, where we perform proper
hand washing, and a library, where our books are stored and read it every-time
we want.There are students of Lemery National High School who are living in far
barangays of Lemery but near to Milan National High School or Anabo National
High School but they’d still prefer the Lemery National High School because its
the best school for us . We also have our club officers, who are responsible,
and participates in different activities such as tree planting activities of the
school and also does their duty. Sometimes , there are seminars like preparing
the disaster for the student be aware on what they have to do during
earthquakes or fire.There were also graduates, who are now successful, that are
former students of LNHS. Because of their Alma mater, they were able to commit
success.
These are all about LNHS, a good school which will
bring you to your success. A school that can help you reach your dreams, a
school where you can learn a lot, and a school where happiness exists. That’s
why LNHS is the best for us, Lemerenhons.
THE BEAUTY OF SAUG FESTIVAL
Saug Festival is
celebrated th 28th day of Junuary in Lemery, Iloilo. “Saug” (to
haul) means to move object laid on a bamboo sledge (karosa) hiched on a draft
animal like carabao or cow. As they celebrate their festival, they act the
history of Lemery and how the situation of the place during 1900’s. It is also
one way to thank their “Santo”, Sto. Niño whom they
think believe that gives them good harvest and more blessings.
The municipality
of Lemery intends three days to celebrate what they used to do every year.
There are battles of the eight (8) different districts or “tribu” to be judged
by the representatives coming from the different part of the Province of Iloilo
and who ever wins, they are going to complete in “KASADYAHAN.” The festival
also has different activities such as pageants, carnivals and such. They also
have products to promote like earthenware products, woven banig, and Lemery’s
native delicacies, which they use to gain money. Citizens there also enjoys the
luxuries and beauty of the town to the fullest as the day of the events draws
near.
And finally, for
the ost spectacular vent of the festival, the coronation of the new king and
queen of Lemery. Every year the municipality of Lemery commemorates this
special event to show the Lemerenhon’s conviviality and believes towards this
tradition. The coronation of the king and queen of the festival memorializes
the native culture and values of the town Lemery.
So what are you
waiting for? Why go to the other places when you can enjoy the true enjoyment
and exhilaratingly fun experience here at the town of Lemery in Iloilo, the
saug Festival.
Amazinggggg!!!!
ReplyDelete