00:00While most celebrations are the Feast of the Santo Niño features grand festivals and ritual prayer dances,
00:07Maasin City's Saturn Leyte honors the Holy Child in a unique and meaningful way.
00:13Philippine Information Agency's Saturn Leyte, Bong Pedalino, has the details.
00:20Most Feast of the Santo Niño celebrations across the Philippines are marked by vibrant festivals and traditional prayer dances.
00:29But in Maasin City's Saturn Leyte, the celebration takes a different route, literally.
00:34Crowds gathered by the sea for the annual Sakai Sakai Festival, a cultural and religious event that pays homage to the Holy Child Jesus.
00:43This tradition, which began years ago, is Maasin City's localized version of the famous Sinulog Festival of Cebu.
00:51The Sakai Sakai Festival commemorates the fluvial journey of the Santo Niño's image from Limasawa Island,
00:57where the first Catholic mass in the Philippines was celebrated, to Maasin City.
01:01A colorful, fluvial parade brings this historical moment to life.
01:05Beyond the religious aspect, the event has grown into a vibrant celebration with street dancing, coastal decorations, sailboat displays, and even giant puppets.
01:22The Sakai Sakai Festival has become a beloved tradition in Maasin City, bringing together faith, history, and vibrant festivities to honor the Santo Niño.
01:39Indeed, it's a celebration that highlights the city's deep cultural and spiritual roots.
01:46From Philippine Information Agency, Pung Pedalino for Palitang Pambansa.
