Aurora Foundation Day
Date Feb 14-19
Venue Baler, Aurora
Description The most awaited event during the celebration of the annual Aurora Foundation Day is the so-called 'Karansa': a Street Dancing Competition where the concept of cooperation and unity called 'Paatag' prevails as the overall theme of the day's hilarious activities. The weeklong activity includes singing and dancing competition, parade of the eight towns of the province with matching thematic floats and beauty queens, Search for Bb. Aurora and a streetside tourism and investment exhibits. The festival culminates in a beach party and fireworks display. A wreath-laying ceremony takes place at the foot of the monument of Dona Aurora Quezon before the end of the festival. Contact Michael Palispis Phone (63 42) 209-4373/4211 Mobile 0921-320-7015 Email [email protected] Website www.aurora.ph
Aurora Surfing Cup
Date 1st Week of February
Venue Baler, Aurora
Description Every February, the province of Aurora plays host to the Aurora Surfing Cup, which through the years, has established a steady following of local and international surfing enthusiasts. The province boasts of internationally recognized surf sites such as Sabang Beach (beach break), Cemento Beach (reef break), and Charlie's Point (river mouth break). The best waves in these areas come around October to March. Contact Charlotte Mora Madarang (Supvg Tourism Officer) Mobile 0921-320-7015 Email [email protected] website www.aurora.ph
Sabutan Festival
Date August 24-25
Venue San Luis, Aurora
Description The Sabutan Festival in the town of San Luis, province of Aurora highlights the importance of growing palm trees locally called Sabutan on the community's economic wellbeing. The raw material which grows on mountain terrain and forest land is used to weave a variety of useful products and ornamentals like hats, placemats, fans and even native dress - all made of Sabutan. The exclusive art of weaving Sabutan is handed down from one generation to the other. The festival features native dance presentation among school children, trade fair, cultural shows and exhibits.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Sabutan belongs to the family of Pandan, its scientific name is Pandanus sabotan. It is a screwpine plant 2 to 4 meters high. Its full-grown leaves are fine in texture, 2 meters long and 6 centimeters wide.
At present, sabutan is found growing in abundance in a semi-wild condition in Aurora. It can be propagated by suckers, and its cultivation can be extended advantageously to any part of the Philippines having moist but well-drained soil.
Sabutan weaving is one of the traditional crafts of Aurora. The tedious process involved in the preparation of raw material rendered the product truly special to the weavers. In the preparation of the fiber, the spiny margins and midribs of the leaves are removed. The leaves are partly dried in the sun, and divided into strips of the desired width by splitting with a comb-like instrument.
The fibers are boiled for about 15 minutes either in fresh water or in water mixed with a little vinegar, lemon, or tamarind fruit. Excess water in the fiber is squeezed out by drawing the strips tightly around a piece of wood. The prepared fibers are then coiled in bundles and for a period of 24 hours are placed preferably in running water; if in stagnant water, the liquid must be changed frequently. The fibers processed are washed several times in fresh water and spread out in the sun to dry.
The primary use of sabutan is in the production of fiber for manufacturing hats. Such headwear made of sabutan are strong and durable and its texture resembles that of the Panama hat. The unbleached hats are light green-gray. The chief objection to the craft is that they do not bleach readily. Good sabutan hats command a high price in the Philippines.
In the early 90s, sabutan fiber bleaching, dyeing and color matching was introduced. This spawned the development of new and trendy hat designs, and new products like bags, placemats and novelty items.
The inherent craftsmanship of the weavers transformed the hats from being a functional product into a high fashion accessory that immediately became a hit in the export market. Over the years, through various skills training, technology transfers, and product development programs, new product lines and designs are developed. These included colorful hats in various styles for ladies, men, and children; mats in round, oval, and rectangular shapes and weave patterns, bags in various styles. Also produced in less quantity were boxes, decors, and trims. Recent additions to the sabutan product line are the upholstery and throw pillow as component and accessories, respectively, in the wood-based home furniture products.
On the other hand, demand for mats is increasing. Domestic buyers convert the sabutan mats of excellent quality further in their natural or dyed shades into bags, footwear, and other novelty items for the domestic and export markets. There are also demands from foreign buyers for loom woven mats. The mats were the rectangular, diagonally woven type in single, twin or queen sizes. Sabutan is also an excellent material for cushions and is good for making handbags, picture frames, and other fancy articles.
Reference: A Compilation of Technical Information on Native Plants Useful as Raw Materials for Crafts 1993 Edition, Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines (PDDCP)-DTI. Contact Person Marissa Quiambao (Municipal Tourism Coordinator) Email [email protected] or Contact Contact Michael Palispis Phone (63 42) 209-4373/4211 Mobile 0921-320-7015 / 0908-895-3076 Website www.aurora.ph
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