Historical Significance
The Lambayok Festival in San Juan, Batangas began to commemorate the municipality’s founding day on December 12. The term “Lambayok” is a portmanteau of the three main industries that represent the town: Lambanog (coconut wine), produce in many barangays, Palayok, Filipino clay pots used in cooking produced in the area; and Karagatan (the sea), representing the fishing industry.
Unique Traditions
To celebrate the town’s heritage and to highlight its main industries they perform street dancing and parades featuring colorful costumes that represent each industry. They also host competitions such as the Indak Lambayok street dance contest and singing contests for the community to participate, trade fairs and gift-giving projects.
Video from Allan Late Balmes Official
Cultural Impact
The Lambayok Festival promotes local pride and unity by celebrating, not only San Juan’s past, but also San Juan’s present through its key industries. This annual event fosters community by showcasing local traditions through parades and street dancing while boosting the local economy and tourism. It servers as a cultural anchor in promoting but also preserving the town’s heritage and the people’s present-day craftsmanship and hard-work.
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Elmar