Butuan city fetes historic Abayan Festival

By Erwin M. Mascariñas
Correspondent .

Every year, Butuan City is reminded of the importance of the Agusan River and its historical influence and how it has sculpted its vast landscape stretching from the province of Agusan del Sur toward Agusan del Norte into the mouth of Butuan Bay, in a religious event called the “Abayan Festival.”

According to local historians, the festive river procession has been celebrated since the late 1880s, the Abayan is an annual festive ritual of prayer culminating in a fluvial procession along the Agusan River in honor to the rivers patron Santa Ana, held in the month of July.

This year, the Abayan Festival kicked off on Sunday as an opening event that will lead to the charter day celebration of Butuan City on Aug. 2.

The event carries a huge historic significance since the activity was primarily made to sway off crocodile attacks along the banks of the river, as crocodiles infested the river system in the early 17th century.

The same family of saltwater crocodiles now lives and occupies the vast Agusan Marsh, the catch basin that leads to the Agusan River.

Coined from the word “abay” which means to guide, Abayan festival’s river procession was originally created to say a prayer and bless the mighty Agusan River asking for the protection for the people and the communities along the river against crocodile attacks. 

“We hope that this religious tradition will continue to be celebrated if the original festival was created to ask for protection against the crocodiles that once hunted along the banks of the Agusan River. I call upon the people in Butuan that we continue to guide each other in the spirit of Abayan but this time in protecting the river,” said Butuan Bishop Cosme Damian Almedilla. 

“This time it is the river that needs our protection.  The Agusan River needs to be saved, let’s not kill the river. Hence let’s protect it, as it is life, water is life,” said Almedilla. 

Almedilla further added that to stop of what he called he calls as human attack and assault on the river citing throwing of garbage into the water and waste from the mining operations like mercury as culprits into the death of the river.

Butuan City Mayor Ronnievic Lagnada reiterated the points stated by bishop Almedilla

If it was meant to protect the people living near the river, in the modern context, it is now the river and everything living on its rich eco-system that needs protecting. In a macro scale, it is not only for the protection of Agusan River and Butuan City but to all the rest of the river basin in Caraga Region,” said Lagnada. 

Lagnada pointed out that the Agusan River is a symbol for life in the region, a source of life for every living creature.     

“River tourism is one of our key initiatives to draw more attention to our river. Right now the river park and marina are under construction that will soon provide a recreational space not only for our people but also for visitors to help improve our tourism industry while also putting the primary concern into its protection,” said Lagnada.