Mahaw-Mahaw Festival 2013

Mahaw-Mahaw Festival 2013

Mahaw-mahaw Festival of  Bgry. Ma-ao, Bao City is  one of the youngest festival in Negros Occidental yet this year  it proved itself to be one of the festivals to watch for in the future. While Mahaw-mahaw Festival is just a Barangay Festival it can already be compared to some festivals hosted by some municipalities.

With the volunteerism of the people in the community, Barangay Ma-ao was able to stage a Festival so beautiful and is comparable to the already established festival in some Municipalities of the Negros Occidental.

Held every 29-30 of December, Mahaw-Mahaw Festival culminates with the Search for Lin-ay sang Ma-ao and the Mahaw-Mahaw Mardi Gras Competition which was participated this year by 8 Puroks of Baranagay Ma-ao.  I was invited to judge in booth events together with Ruby Ore of ABS CBN; Rudy Reviche of  San Agustin College;famed Masskara Choreographer   Panoy Cabalcar and Dentist turned Photographer Ronnie Baldonado.

Mahaw-Mahaw Festival was chaired by Brgy.Kagawad  Marites-Bedonia Espeleta and the event organizers headed by Mr. Joel Gubaton.

History of Ma-ao

Several tales were told of the history of Ma-ao , One is that it may have been derived from the word Ma-ao meaning there . During the Spanish era, Hda Zaragosa was the seat of the parish on the eastern part of Bago. Being densely populated, the inhabitants would say to the new settlers Kadto kamo sa Ma-ao (Yu settle here). So the uninhibited place they are referring to come to be known now as Ma-ao. The other version holds that the name from the word Mahaw (have breakfast). It tells of acertain Spanish gentleman who came to the place and inquired from a native woman and her child. He asked “Como se llama esta lugar” (What’s the name of this place). The woman did not understand then however, her child being hungry screamed out loud, “Mahaw!, Mahaw!” (I want to have breakfast). Without much ado, the Spanish stranger, replied, Muchas Gracias estar lugar se llama mahaw (Thank you, so this place is called mahaw). Mahaw later became Ma-ao.

How to Get There:

From Bacolod City, you can ride a mini bus straight to Brgy Ma-ao for about 1.5 hr. By private car Brgy Ma-ao, can be reach by an hour or even less.