Historical Significance
The Sigpawan Festival of Lemery stands as a heartfelt tribute to the town’s deep connection with the sea, agriculture, and faith. First celebrated in 2007, the festival was conceived as a thanksgiving event for the community’s blessings—its bountiful harvests, hardworking people, and enduring devotion. The name Sigpawan comes from the word sigpaw, a traditional scoop net used both in fishing and farming, symbolizing the livelihood that sustains the people of Lemery.
Anchored in the town’s religious devotion to San Roque, its patron saint, the festival merges faith and culture in a unified expression of gratitude. Over time, Sigpawan has grown into one of Lemery’s defining cultural celebrations—an occasion that mirrors its people’s resilience, spirituality, and close ties to their natural resources.
Unique Traditions
At the heart of the Sigpawan Festival is the fluvial procession, a moving religious ritual where boats decorated with colorful ornaments glide along the Lemery coast. The image of San Roque is paraded across the water, with fishermen and families joining in a communal display of thanksgiving and coastal pride. This procession embodies the town’s gratitude for its blessings and reflects its deep-rooted connection to the sea.
Beyond the procession, Lemery bursts into life with street and court dance competitions, featuring vibrant performances inspired by fishing life, harvest rituals, and folk traditions. Youth groups dressed in sea-themed costumes bring the town’s stories to life through energetic dance routines.
Complementing these spectacles are cultural and artistic events such as wall-painting contests, mural competitions, local band performances, and pageants like Binibining Lemery. Food fairs and agro-markets highlight Batangueño flavors—sinaing na tulingan, maliputo, and native delicacies—alongside fresh produce, artisanal crafts, and handmade goods from local farmers and fisherfolk. These offerings transform the town into a lively marketplace of culture, creativity, and sustainability.
Video from JheeTV
Cultural Impact
More than a celebration, the Sigpawan Festival embodies Lemery’s collective identity. It is both a thanksgiving for the community’s abundance and an assertion of its pride as a coastal and agricultural town. Through its rituals, dances, and displays, the festival preserves traditions while encouraging unity and participation among residents of all ages.
Visitors are drawn not only to its festivities but also to the warmth and hospitality of the Lemereños, who welcome everyone like family. The event also promotes agro-tourism by showcasing the town’s natural resources and nearby attractions such as Taal Volcano, Taal Basilica, Fantasy World, and the Pansipit River—each contributing to Lemery’s reputation as a destination rich in culture, nature, and history.
Ultimately, the Sigpawan Festival is a vivid reflection of how faith, nature, and community spirit intertwine. It honors Lemery’s roots while reaffirming its people’s gratitude, creativity, and enduring connection to their land and sea.