During the month of May, the agricultural town of Mogpog in Marinduque celebrates their thanksgiving festival for their annual harvests in honor of their patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. According to my interviewee, their own Honorable Senen Livelo former mayor of Mogpog stated that the aim of this festival is to pay tribute to the saint and to the farmers who made a solemn effort on their land for numerous months. He then said that Kangga Festival was implemented by the local government which I celebrated annually to correspond with San Isidro Labrador’s feast day of May 13.
“Kangga” in Marinduquenian Tagalog, is a sled made of bamboo usually carried by carabao. It is used by farmers to transport tools or harvests form their homes to the fields or to the market. Kangga festival is a communal way of rejoicing and merry-making celebrated by the people of Mogpog as an act of thanksgiving and gratitude to the Almighty God through St. Isidore Labrador for their abundant harvest. A kangga is an indigenous means of transportation used by our ancestors specially in the villages or barrios.
Kangga Festival was first initiated by Mr. Jun Lavares. He coordinated with several Mogpogoenos whom he knew could help him in his aim to preserve our culture. Among these who worked for its realization were then former SB member Senen Livelo back then, now former mayor of Mogpog, Dr. Reynaldo Menorca, Dr. Homer Montejo, Mr. Galileo Lavares and then SB member Florito Molbog. The whole concept was drafted by Dr. Reynaldo Menorca. Since he was not in the capacity to formalize and legalize the festival, he conferred it with SB member Roberto Narito being the chairman of the Comittee on Culture and Education and further recommended that Kangga Festival be enacted into law by virtue of Municipal Ordinance no. 2003-101 sponsored by Hon. Roberto N. Narito.
On the day of the festival, holy mass took place in the local church to give thanks to San Isidro Labrador followed by the display of various colorfully designed kanggas by farmers from different villages. A usual kangga displayed includes farmers’s tools such as the iron plow, scythe, coconut husker and other farm equipment. These kanggas are blessed by the parish priest to ensure good harvest in the next farming season. Then, the kanggas together  with their owners who’s at the same time carrying various food trays and baskets filled with their assorted farm harvests, paraded around the town to the tune of the brass band of course with the special courtesy of MARINDUQUE ACADEMY DRUM AND LYRE BAND behind of each of the kangga village by village are some of the people in the village and the owner of the kangga. There are also joyful street-dancing and cultural presentations which indeed add enjoyment to the festival. Moreover, the sights of beauty queens certainly give interest to celebrate. At the end of the parade, is the highlight of the event.
After the parade, farmers revealed their best and biggest produce in the contest made for them. There is also a racing competition, where farmer and his carabao join together to reach the finish line and claim their prize.
Among the festivals in the Philippines, this Kangga Festival is one of the most unique feasts proudly celebrated by Marinduquenios. It does not only give emphasis to their patron saint but also to the betterment of their lives through faith and perseverance.
– Ferry Anne Lacdao
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