As Tiempo Suerte—the season of sugarcane harvest and milling—intensifies in Negros Island, sugarcane planters hire obreros (laborers) to work in the canefields, ensuring a steady flow of cane to the sugar centrals.
In a small village of Linao, Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental, about 100 kilometers south of Bacolod, residents celebrate a festival honoring these obreros.
However, budgetary constraints forced them to stop the event for nine years. Now, on March 8, 2025, they are bringing it back, reviving their tribute to the hardworking laborers of the sugar industry.
Village Councilor Jason Melanio told Brigada News FM Philippines that their festival began in 2016, originally conceptualized by then-village official Francis Dela Cruz.
He added that the celebration coincides with the annual patronal fiesta of St. Joseph the Worker, the patron saint of laborers, which the community honors every second Saturday of March.
St. Joseph, the humble and hardworking carpenter, provided for the Holy Family and exemplified the dignity of labor.
Recognizing his role, the Catholic Church established the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker to honor workers and reaffirm the value of labor in human life and society.
Linao’s festival embodies this spirit by celebrating the obreros’ sacrifices, not only as a means of livelihood but also as an expression of their faith.
Melanio said the festival traces its roots to Hacienda Bearin, where sacadas (sugar migrants) from Aklan and other provinces arrive every Tiempo Suerte to work as tapas-karga, the one that cuts and loads sugarcane into a truck.
Their backbreaking labor in the sugarcane fields inspired the community to create the festival, honoring their sacrifices and contributions to the local economy.
Winners
This year’s festival featured a vibrant street dancing and cultural competition, where Tribu Nueve Diez emerged as the overall champion. Tribu Unsay secured the first runner-up position, while Tribu Mabucan placed second runner-up.
Other special awards include:
- Best in Choreography – Tribu Nueve Diez
- Best in Street Dancing – Tribu Nueve Diez
- Best in Tribal Queen – Tribu Unsay
- Best in Headdress – Tribu Unsay
- Best in Costume Display – Tribu Unsay
- Best in Discipline – Tribu Canto Quatro
Meanwhile, Village Councilor Stephen Manlangit extended his gratitude to everyone who contributed to the festival’s success.
He also thanked the organizing team, participants, and fellow village officials for their dedication and teamwork in making the event possible despite budget limitations.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.