Hinatdan Festival

A Festival of History, Arts and Culture .. A Festival of Life ... a Festival of Thanksgiving, Hope and Oneness of Ginatilanons.

The word "Hinatdan" is taken from an old Cebuano root word "Hatod" meaning to send and "Hinatdan" means an act of sending something.

History recalls that the present Ginatilan was once a barrio of the town of Samboan and the town was the main seat of the Roman Catholic Parish. Since the barrio had a lot of parishioners, the main parish of Samboan had extended its religious activities and services for the people's convenience by asssigning a Spanish priest in the area and later organized his (priest) own parish but still under the jurisdiction of the main Samboan Parish.

Due to the problem of supplies and materials for the priest's religious services in the barrio, ecclesiatical things like priest's vestments, church garments, religious items and even his means of subsistence were often sent to him from Samboan to the barrio. As the parishioners would say "Ang among pari, hinatdan gyud na siya sa iyang kagamitan ug mga kinahanglanon aron motonhay ang iyang pag-alagad sa Dios ug mga barriohanon."

Since that time the barrio folks always remember the place as "Hinatdan" because they often see that things had been sent to the priest. One folk would ask "Asa ka moadto?" and it was being answered "Moadto ko sa Hinatdan" meaning the place where things were being sent to the priest.

In the lapse of time, "Hinatdan" became a popular name of the barrio. As the years go by, the name "Hinatdan" evolved to become "Ginatilan" today.

In the making of a cultural festival of Ginatilan at present, "Hinatdan" was rightfully chosen as the name of the festival because of its historical and religious value.

"Hinatdan" can be considered as the general term, an act of progress and development. Aside from the above mentioned historical and religious accounts, we can aptly say that today Ginatilan is "Hinatdan sa mga butang alang sa kalamboan ug kauswagan. Hinatdan sa mga maayo, makugihon ug mahigugmaong katawhan. Hinatdan sa mga bahandi sa dagat ug kayutaan ug hinatdan sa mga grasya sa kahitas-an."

"Hinatdan" is the fitting name of the festival because it portrays a significant notion of the place itself. It inspires and encourages the townfolks to work harder and do things for the best in life, so that the fruits of their labor and dedication can be sent to the community and for them to cherish and be proud of. "Hinatdan" is an act of good service to God and to the Community. It is a festival of history, a festival of arts and culture of Ginatilanon and a festival of life.

Source: http://ginatilan.gov.ph