Cultural Impact of Sugbuan Festival in Nasugbu, Batangas to Honor Saint Francis Xavier

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

A festival is known to most people as a day of celebration. One such festival is the Sugbuan Festival held every third day of May in Nasugbu, Batangas. Giving the people a glimpse of the history and origin, this traditional Fiesta is dedicated to honoring St. Francis Xavier. The festival could be considered happiest day for the people of Nasugbu; three-day uninhibited merriment, of endless parade and processions of the group of revelers, salted and intricately costumed, marching an endless loop of streets dancing to the continuous, rhythmic and hypnotic beating of drums during street dancing and band competitions.

METHODS

The research design used in the study was the descriptive survey which determines the cultural impact of the Sugbuan Festival to honor St. Francis Xavier. The sampling technique was the purposive convenience sampling method. In this study, 100 respondents were purposely selected with an equal member of 10 respondents for each barangay who celebrated the fiesta.

The research design used in the study was the descriptive survey which determines the profile of the respondents and the cultural impact of the Sugbuan Festival. The sampling technique was the purposive convenience sampling method. In this study, 100 respondents were purposely selected with an equal member of 10 respondents for each barangay who celebrated the fiesta.

RESULTS

Many participants who participated in the study were natives of Nasugbu who celebrated and experienced the Sugbuan Festival. The results of the investigation revealed that 1) Majority of the respondents belonged to 41 and above age range, female, most of them were basic education and college graduate and member of a non-government organization. 2) The respondents believed that the Sugbuan Festival had a cultural impact on their lives by bringing about their knowledge of improving themselves spiritually, socially, recreationally and educationally. 3) There was no significant relationship on the responses of the respondents regarding the socio-cultural impact of the Sugbuan Festival and their profile. 4) A Community Festival Plan was designed to promote the cultural heritage of the festival.

DISCUSSIONS

The results demonstrate the need for strengthening the cultural heritage of the festival for the Nasugbuenos to enhance their spiritual, educational, social and recreational aspects of life and to promote to themselves the cultural heritage of the festival which was handed to them by their grandparents.