Zarraga City Hall
If you took a visit on Iloilo, you would probably be there for island hopping, and visit old churches and heritage sites. Your trip won’t be complete if you miss one thing, “Pantat Festival”. With some music, cool breeze and a mess of fish fryer — that would be a great way to spend an afternoon in Zarraga, Iloilo.
This fish is locally known as ‘hito’ in Tagalog and Bicol, ‘paltat’ in Ilocos, ‘ito’ in Pampanga, and ‘pantat’ in Pangasinan, Cebu, and Iloilo. This delicious fish is greatly cultured in the Philippines. Iloilo is known as the pantat capital of the region. As the agro-industry of the province goes bigger, the province celebrates “Pantat Festival”. The biggest festival in Zarraga, Iloilo which aims to promote pantat production in the municipality.
Pantat Festival Dance
This event is held every 3rd week of December. This event highlights participating tribes in clad wearing traditional fishermen’s outfit or wrapped in black cloth symbolizing pantat dances with formations and movement to the beat of the drums. Pantat Cooking Contest is also one the highlights of this 5-day celebration. The festival has band performances, and disco derby.
Pantat Festival started way back 2003 when a few number of individuals talked about the possibility of establishing a local event to promote their local produce, pantat. Zarraga is ever thankful to its pantat industry playing a dominant role in the town’s economy. In some matter of time, economic accension depended on their production of pantat.
Pantat Barbecue
Small businesses, and local trade within the municipality are highly promoted by the celebration. The municipal government also works within the local communities to promote this local event and its activities in an effort to drive customers to their peaceful town.
Zarraga’s Pantat Festival achieved a lot since it started. It continues to strive the town to be known for its delicacies. It remains true to its roots which reflects the culture of the Ilocanos. Even you are not an Ilocano, no one still resist to the experience which the Pantat Festival gives.
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