Photo courtesy of Mec J. ConchaWinston Churchill, a British politician and recipient of Nobel Prize in Literature once said, “Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse.” Art is an integral component of community life. Catmon as a community of faithful Catholics stood for 175 years amidst great drama brought by the forces of nature, economics and politics. With the artistry and innovativeness of the people, tradition like “Sugat” emerged to be a favorite of all. Though this event is not unique to Catmon, nevertheless you can feel a distinctive stroke of Catmonanon creativity in it. Like any form of spectacle, the “Sugat” evolved from a simple manifestation of faith to a grand expression of community culture and life.
"Sugat" in Cebuano or "Salubong" in Tagalog is the Easter celebration of the Catholic Filipinos which never failed to be a crowd drawer in any part of the country. Minglanilla, Cebu is quite famous for this, and they call it as Kabanhawan Festival. Almost all parishes in the Philippines have their own way of celebrating such event.
Utmost jubilation reverberated in the corners of the Catmon town plaza as the angel (portrayed by a pretty girl) went down from heaven (a structure decorated to depict as such) to take off the purple veil that covers the face of the Virgin Mary. This scene was an annual sight, except for last year, when a simpler dramatization of the “Sugat” was done. We were deprived last year of the spectacle of a flying angel, and thank God it’s back! I didn’t really know what the real problem was; some say it was the lack of the bamboo poles and other materials for the “Sugatan” (the structure), others say someone didn’t like to risk the safety of the girl harnessed as an angel. Okay, okay! Let us not dig on that, because one important thing happened - at long last, the structure that was built a few years ago in the upper portion of the entrance of the gym eventually served its purpose, heaven for the “Sugat”.
Guided by the tradition, the art is preserved, yet it grows it splendor. With the use of modern technology – innovation is inevitable – but the heart of the celebration is always kept constant. That’s the Catmonanon spirit. Proud to have one!
