June 1 of every year has been declared as Sumuroy Day by the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Palapag last March, pending the approval of the national government. It is in honor of Agustin Sumuroy, a native Palapagnon who led the first and largest organized armed resistance of the people of Samar against the Spanish colonizers from 1649 to 1650.
PAPATAG had contributed efforts in lobbying to the SB for the enactment of a Resolution in this purpose. This is in accordance with PAPATAG's adherence to giving utmost importance to Palapag's local history and heritage.
Part of the audience during the first part of the Sumuroy Day celebrations
The first part of the tribute was a short program yesterday morning, wherein the guest speaker was Prof. Estrellita Pinca, herself a Palapagnon residing and working in the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP) in Catarman. She was a historical research grantee of the National Historical Society and had published several articles in local publications on the same topic. Her talk yesterday centered on the need for local historical research, citing the lack thereof.
The guest speaker, Prof. Estrellita Pinca from the University of Eastern Philippines
The highlight of the program was a wreath-laying ceremony beneath the Sumuroy Monument at the Palapag public plaza, led by municipal officials and school heads.
Some of the municipal officials and school heads present
The second part of the celebrations was the free public showing of PAPATAG's 46-minute digital film "Epiko ni Sumuroy" in the evening. Prior to this, the cast and crew of the movie held a caravan around the poblacion to announce and invite the Palapagnons to join the evening's activities.
A brief but symbolic candle-lighting ceremony preceded the film showing. A Waray poem entitled "360", depicting the 360th anniversary of the start of the Sumuroy Revolt, was recited while members of PAPATAG and the audience lit candles beneath the Sumuroy Monument.
Then the finale...
PAPATAG estimates the film showing audience to number from around 300 at the start of the film, to around 700 at the end. The first Sumuroy Day observance this year was indeed successful and colorful, with the active participation of PAPATAG.
