25/01/2026
From Soil to Street: Jimanban Festival at Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan 2026
The Jimanban Festival of New Lucena joins the Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan 2026 contest proper which unfolded from the Freedom Grandstand, passes through La Paz, and concludes at the Iloilo Sports Complex.
Historically, Jimanban was the original name of New Lucena, derived from “nagapanghimanban,” referring to the clearing of banban grass in preparation for planting palay—an image that continues to define the town’s identity.
Today, that same narrative of labor, gratitude, and communal pride is translated into movement, rhythm, and color, as performers bring Jimanban’s legacy from the fields of New Lucena to the grand stage of Iloilo’s cultural showcase.
✍️ by Kurt Reed True
📸 by Kurt Reed True, Cristen Pearl Lorega, & Iris Ken Gemoto