Community Immersion at Sigma, Capiz, Philippines
It was a community immersion that brought me here, it was such a wonderful experience for me to capture their traditions, culture, their crafts and even the processed foods originated from this part of the country. And, it is a wonderful place to stay, very simple living.
It was such a place to live in, with hospitable and accommodating
people, the town observed its cleanest and greenest surrounding which I was
truly amazed.
One of the sixteen municipalities of the province Capiz is the
town Sigma which has 21 barangays. According to the old folks, their have a
datu that has a cold illness and often blowing his nose it is called “naga-sikma”.
And that datu was a popular to their followers and other datus, they change the
name in “Datu Sikma”. And that time the town named Sigma from the word “Sikma”.
LANDMARKS
Sigma Town
Hall
This hall serve as the of elected Municipal official. Conducting
important transaction is also done in the sigma town hall.
Sigma Town Church
This was constructed through the effort of every person who
donated their money just to build this which serves as the legalization that Sigmahanon
is not just following the cultural heritage alone. They also perpetuate the
moral values and attitudes which were brought and introduce by the Spaniards
during the Spanish era the CHRISTIANITY.
Municipal Library
This serve as a library to all Sigmahanons who want to
research about the History of Sigma and all Barangay under its
jurisdiction. Books and learning materials are also present to develop the mind
of all Sigmahanons and promote a “Book Lover Municipality” in the second District
in this province.
Sigma Public Plaza
A
circle type shape town plaza signifies the town’s unity and
diversity. It is where 21 barangays meet during annual fiesta. It is
also serve as a
rendezvous by calling up the mass meeting. The town plaza was well
lighted at night and the lace were the center the festivals during its
annual fiesta.
Products
Tropics, a small business which makes “Kaong” and “Nata de Coco”
being sell to different stores and even in the mall throughout the
province and also being exported in the neighboring provinces. Other mass
produced in town are bamboo crafts, muscobado (harden sugar), colored fiber
decorated materials and so with salabat (ginger tea).
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| Decorative plant colored fiber |
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| Wood crafts |
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| Bamboo crafts |
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| Ginger tea |
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| Kaong fruit |
EVENTS
Hil-O -Hanay Festival
In early days of sigma when there were still a few people
around the population was partly distributed, the practice of HIL-O-Hanay was
quiet prevalent. There were no agricultural machineries to
speak off, and farm work was really tedious so cropping season in farming was
a labor intensive undertaking. When one farmer work in the farm
of another who had help him earlier, in is said that he is rendering “HIL-O to
his companion.”
As of today, the sigmahanon still practice HIL-O-HANAY
every time they participate in a “patabang”,”pahapon-hapon”, or “paaga-aga”.It
is not just limited to a farm work but may include repairing in
neighbors house, road maintenance , cleanliness drive , construction of
school facilities, relief opertaion and another community activities.
Payag contest
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With the current trend of building concrete structures for residential purposes, the usefulness of the indigenous bamboo as art material, the LGU of Sigma has incorporated the annual payag-payag contest in the HIL-O-HANAY festival as folk architecture. The “payag” is a small hut made of bamboos and other indigenous materilas the payag- payag contest is open to all 21 barangays of Sigma.
Lutong Sigmahanon
A showcase of simple local culinary delights meant to gladden the heart and nourish the body after the hard days toil under the sun. I observed that every dishes have coconut milk or “gata”. Makes me feel hungry....
Pailig It Lantay
Lin-Ay It Sigma
This maybe a vestige of our colonial past particularly during those period will we were under American rule were carnival queen and later on festival queen were introduce into our psyche. In recognition of this tradition, LIN-AY IT SIGMA is crowned yearly as a show of solidarity with the rest of the Filipino nation.
Sigma Brief History
Sigma Brief History
In
the year 1615 or ninety-four years after Magellan landed in Cebu, 1521,
a group of Catholic Missionaries led by Fr. Alonso Ejevas, came to the
Inland of Panay for the organization and establishment of the towns of
Jamindan and Mambusao, formerly named “Tipic”. Mambusao however, was so
wide that the descendants of Datu Monahan and Pedro Vesera again
suggested to the missionaries that a ne w town be estbalished in the
east. Hence, a new town called Sigma.
According to historians, the SIGMA was named after the town’s first executive datu, a powerful ruler named Datu Cayongyong Mahinay.
The Datu, with the frequent recurrence of his normal cold illness and
often blowing his nose, in dialect “naga-sikma” was popularly known
among his followers and other “Datus” ruliing the neighboring regions as
“Datu Sikma”. Hence, the town named Sigma from the word “Sikma”.
HIL-O-HANAY FESTIVAL
The Hil-O-Hanay Festival is celebrated by Sigmahanon in
order to portray their simple way of life since olden time. “Hil-O” is a
Sigmahanon term which means to reciprocate. In past times when farming
was mainly dependent on manual labor and wher5e no farm machinery was
yet in existence. Sigmahanon farmers traditionally come to the aid of
one another in preparing the fields, planting their crops, harvesting,
threshing, winnowing, gathering and back to the field preparation in a
cycle of communal sharing and fraternity. Today the spirit of
Hil-O-Hanay lives among Sigmahanons.
Festival Payag-Payag Contest
During fiesta their was aPayag-Payag Contest and in every Brgy. must have a payag-payag
and that payag is a small hut made of bamboos and other indigenous
materials. The one that are able to construct the best payag-payag and
consummate the criteria set by the judges is declared as the winner. The
usefulness of the indigenous bamboo is slowly fading away. And they do
this festival to promote the alternative rises bamboo as art material.
During the festival the mayor gives one lechon (pig) in every Brgy. Then
the people eat their lunch in that payag-payag.
Sigma Community Heritage Center
It
is located near in the plaza, church and Sigma town hall. It has a two
story building own by the municipal government. In the first floor, you
can see there the post office, capelco and etc. In the second floor of
this edifice houses a multipurpose hall which can be utilized as a
performance venue for stage plays and cultural events. It is also ideal
for seminars, conference and other special events. It has also mini
gallery which showcases the rich cultural, natural and human heritage of
the town. It is also an area where the Dagway Sigmahanon practice their
performances.
Inside the Heritage Center
Dagway Sigmahanon Inc.
Sigma is home to Dagway Sigmahanon Inc., the
resident theater of Sigmahanon foundation for culture and the Arts,
Inc., (SFCAI) and a recipient of the 2004 Gawad Galing Pook
(Trailblazing Program). DSI has performed in various performance venues
in Metro Manila, and Western Visayas and has brought pride to
Sigmahanons. On the other hand, aside from conducting artistic
training’s and workshop whole year round, SFCAI regularly host
performance of national and international acclaimed artists and
performing groups. 
Profile of Dagway Sigmahanon
Theater
is not only for entertainment but is also a very effective medium for
social transformation. This philosophy has been the foundation of Dagway Sigmahanon, Inc. (DSI) for the past six years.
The
rudiment of artistic trainings does not only raise the level of
perfection of each of the members but make them know and understand
themselves more fully. Theater urges them to be more attached to the
present realities. The process has made them “totoong tao”.
The
Sigma Municipal Council for Culture and arts, now the Sigmahanon
Foundation for Culture and the Arts, Inc. (SFCAI) organized the Dagway
Sigmahanon in May 2000. It aimed to save the young people of Sigma from
juvenile delinquency through the dynamics of theater by integrating
values and spiritual formation. It was registered with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 6, 2004 and known as Dagway
Sigmahanon, Inc. “Dagway” is a hiligaynon word that literally means image. Dagway Sigmahanon therefore can be literally translated as “image of Sigmahanons”.
Source: Dagway Sigmahanon, Inc. Sigma, Captivating Capiz
Capsu Hometel
It is run by the captivating Capiz State University, the
hometel is located along Brgy. Poblacion Sur, where in the Strong
Republic Nautical Highway traverse. It has air conditioned rooms with a
television set in each room. It has a function room, which is ideal for
seminars and special occasions.
Inside the Capsu Hometel
Snack Haus
This is the Ryan and Randy snack haus, located inside the Sigma market.
It is a big attraction not only for the Sigmahanons nut also from those
who comes from other towns. It’s a big hit during summer days. Many
people say’s that “ang halo-halo sa Sigma ay d’best gid yah!” And for me it is proven and tested.The Buety Of Nature (Capiz Paridize Resort)
Capiz Paradise Resort was founded in 2007 and is found in Mianay,Sigma a town in the province of capiz .The resort was established by an Iranian national named Mr.Mahmoud Moien who happens to mary a filipina, a resident of the said town.Mr.Mahmoud Moien started the project when he finally found a beautiful quiet,peaceful and perfect place in the woods of Barangay. Mianay to breed and exhibit captive animals for various purpose,specifically for educational and leisure.It is said that the first animals that has exhibited and breeded was specie of monkey,fishes and crocodile.It has also settled different plans to be developed as of this time like different structures,additional species of captive animals and the entire development of the resort.Although we are still waiting for its official opening people can now go and see the place.The development and construction is still on going. Mr. Moein promise the people that Capiz Paradise will surely capture the hearth of capiziños.
FLOWERS
You can smell the fresh air from those beautiful flowers here in
resort. And you can also buy this product.The small flower is twenty
five(25) pesos and a big is one- hundred (100) pesos.
COTTAGES
The bamboo cottage,two-hundred(200) pesos good for the whole family.
The Chico cottage,is one-hundred fifty(150) pesos it is good for all friends to have party.
This cottage is two-hundred (200) pesos.
Reception
You can buy the fish by one-hundred(100) pesos per kilo.
Fishing
You can provide an event here and special occasion.Like birthday's, weeding, etc...
Boating
You can enjoy boating,30 pesos per hour
HOW TO GET THERE
HOTEL
The hotel have two rooms, six-hundred(600) pesos for overnight and (300) pesos for short time.
SWIMMING POOLS
There are two brand new swimming pool.One for the children and one for
the adults.The water is replace everyday from the a very clean
underground spring water.
CANTEEN
A canteen that you can buy a foods.
Games
Table tennis also 30 pesos per hour.
Billiard also 30 pesos per hour.
Badminton also 30 pesos per hours.
Sigma is situated at the central plains of the province. To the east of Sigma 3.5 kms. away is the Municipality of Dao; to the west 7.0 kms. bound the Municipality of Mambusao; and direct north is the town of Ivisan, 13 kms. away from Poblacion Norte. The Poblacion is strategically located along the crossroads of the three provinces – Capiz, Aklan and Iloilo. It is around 30 minutes non-stop ride from Roxas City, the capital city of Capiz or forty five minutes ride by passenger buses and jeepneys, they paid 30 pesos the regular passenger and 23 pesos the students and senior citizen in the transportation . By the same vehicle, Iloilo City is a good two and a half hours ride from Sigma and is practically one hour and thirty minutes ride by bus or jeep from Kalibo, Aklan.
