ILOILO City – There’s a heated debate on social media over the rightful use and origin of the term “sadsad” (dance parade) in the context of two popular and almost similar festivals – the Dinagyang of Iloilo City and Ati-Atihan of Kalibo, Aklan.
This has been sparked by a Facebook post from the National Museum of the Philippines – Iloilo which described sadsad as a form of merry-making.
The post highlighted the energetic and vibrant nature of sadsad celebrations, such as in the Dinagyang Festival.
The post received divisive reactions, with those from Aklan asserting their province’s ownership of the term due to its long-standing usage in Kalibo’s Ati-atihan Festival, and questioning the museum’s appropriation of the term to Iloilo City’s Dinagyang.
The local government unit (LGU) of Kalibo, which wrapped up its 2024 edition of the Ati-Atihan Festival just this Sunday, was compelled to issue an official statement clarifying its position on the matter.
Mayor Juris Bautista Sucro emphasized the term’s widespread usage across Panay Island while acknowledging its deep-rooted significance in Aklanon culture and identity.
According to Sucro, sadsad is more than just a word for the people of Aklan; it represents a key aspect of their cultural identity, particularly during the Ati-atihan season.
He said it symbolizes a unique combination of rituals, traditions and expressions that are inherently Aklanon.
While he clarified that Kalibo has no intention of claiming exclusive rights over the term, he underscore its cultural importance and contextual meaning within the Aklanon community.
Sucro then appealed for a respectful understanding and portrayal of cultural terms like sadsad, advocating for their representation in a way that respects their true meaning and significance within their respective cultural contexts.
This approach is essential for preserving the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the Philippines, he stressed.
Sucro reaffirmed his local government unit’s commitment to protecting and promoting cultural heritage, and encouraged open and respectful dialogue to enhance understanding and appreciation of the Philippines’ diverse cultural expressions.
What exactly did the post say?
“SÁDSAD TA! When Ilonggos say ‘merry-making’, it’s not the half-hearted partying, it’s the ‘feel-the-beat-of-the-drums’ ‘dance-your-hearts-out’ level of party and fun (but not the rowdy type of fun). This #Dinagyang2024, see how the streets of downtown Iloilo City come to life on weekend as revelers join the ‘sadsad’ (something like dance-parade) with their Kasadyahan groups and Ati tribes from one stage to the next,” part Facebook post of the National Museum of the Philippines – Iloilo read.
It added: “On Saturday evening, devotees of Santo Niño will have at least an hour of sadsad or devotional dancing in front of the San Jose Placer Parish Church, manifesting their petitions. Sadsad is a Visayan word which means ‘To trip, skip, dance, step nimbly or lightly.’ It’s difficult to describe, but it’s like soundwaves passing through your eardrums, vibrating to your heart and sending signals to your feet to just move it and feel the beat. So, when you are in Iloilo this weekend, don’t be shy, join the sadsad and have fun!”
For Sucro , the focus should not solely be on sadsad’s linguistic aspect “but rather on how it embodies and defines the cultural identity of the Aklanon people during our revered Ati-atihan festivities.”/PN
