15/07/2025
DID YOU KNOW?
Although their patronal fiesta falls every December 8th, the parishioners of Libagon, Southern Leyte also holds the July 16 Feast of Virgen del Carmen with much fervor and religiosity. In fact, in the recent times, this fiesta in honor of the segunda patrona of the municipality might have even overshadowed the principal feast day, which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary's Immaculate Conception. The communal religious activity highlights a rite called by the locals as “Pangilis,” which has been identified with their devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Its name is rooted from the Cebuano word, “Ilis,” which means “to change.” Compared to the town patronal fiesta of December 8 which falls on the “Kahuyogan” (fiesta day), the Pangilis celebration takes place on “Liwas” (post-fiesta), after July 16.
While the main December 8 fiesta is a joint parochial and municipal event, the July 16 fiesta del Carmen is a religious celebration. The proceeds from the benefit dance held in the evening, which is now done in daytime, goes to fund future parish programs and projects.
It was said that the devotion to the Virgen del Carmen in Libagon fluorished when the Espina Family, whose ancestral roots came from Bohol, introduced it around the early 1900s and the 1930s. The founding of the Cofradia del Virgen del Carmen (the Confraternity of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel), a religious organization (a “Kapunongan”) in charge of propagating the devotion and the upkeep of the image, was also attributed to the family. From this period, the Pangilis rite started as a parochial celebration. The local government, together with the help of the Sinulog Foundation of Cebu, later developed the rite into a festival and a heritage event, and was conceptualized in the year 2017.
Signalling the nine-day novena prayers in anticipation of the fiesta of the Virgen del Carmen, a Jornada is observed on the noon of July 7. The Jornada is the transfer of the images of the patron saints of the barangays and sitios under the parish of Libagon from their chapels to the main church. At the afternoon, the novena is said. The prayer ends with the chanting of the Gozos, a series of estribillos (couplet) repeated after every estrofa (verse) which speaks of the joys in the Virgin Mary’s apparition at Mount Carmel. Mass follows after the prayer. The Novena Masses are observed every afternoon until the 15th, the Vesperas (vesper).
A Pontifical Mass, presided by the bishop of Maasin and concelebrated by priests from neighboring parishes, is observed on the 16th, the Kahuyugan (the day of the fiesta). After which, the Pangilis Festival Parade and Competition is held to depict the history behind the rite.
The next day, July 17, the Liwas (the post-fiesta), the local bugle tours the town sounding the "Diana" for the Pangilis. A Requiem Mass for the past Carmelitas (the officers, organizers and sponsors of the Cofradia del Virgen del Carmen) and hermanos and hermanas mayores. After the mass, the Pangilis follows, where the next officials for the cofradia are elected and the next hermano or hermana mayor is selected and appointed (“Giilisan ang mga opisyales sa cofradia”). This event is done at the church. At noon, the outgoing hermano or hermana mayor leads the procession and hands over the Virgen from the caro (carriage) to the newly-elected officials of the cofradia. A joyous street dancing, also called “Pangilis,” follows the rite. This communal rhythmic dancing is celebrated with locals preparing food, traditional games, competitions and the crowning of the Hari ug Hara sa Pangilis, which ends on or before midnight.
Towards the end of the fanfare, the festival jingle plays the first half of its lyrics:
Sa malamboon natong kasaysayan,
Mao'y naandan sa katawhan.
Ang liwas sa maayo nga kapistahan
Mosunod ang mabulokon nga kasaulogan.
Mga molopyo nagmadasigon
sa pinangga nga lungsod sa Libagon.
Pasalamat sa Birhen sa Carmen, atong patron.
Kalihokan maanindot ihalad 'ta karon.
Pangilis, alang sa atong bag-ong paglaum.
Pangilis, alang sa atong bag-ong sinugdan.
Pangilis, alang sa atong bag-ong saad.
Maglipay 'tang tanan sa Pangilis.
Halad pasalamat sa Birhen sa Carmen,
Ang Pangilis, saulogon ta!
Ang Pangilis!
