SIKOY-SIKOY FESTIVAL

I. Introduction

 

Sikoy-Sikoy is a colloquial term for “panikoy” – a fishing method actively practiced by Sanfernandohanon fishermen by throwing nets even in rough and sturdy waves.

To this day, at least five groups of fishermen in the Poblacion area continue to employ panikoy-sikoy. In each group, there are a minimum of ten fishermen and two motorized bangkas.

As early as 3:00 AM, these fishermen set out to the seas, repeating the fishing practice 5-8 times until 10:00 AM.

Locally called as barungoy, flying fishes in various species such as laniw, limbuwad, higsiw and baru-baru are caught.

Throughout the years, the term sikoy-sikoy has been adapted by the locals as the group of fishes that are caught in the said fishing practice. These group of fishes are best prepared as kinilaw and can be cooked as inun-unan, tinuwa and sinugba.

II. Panikoy: A Way of Fishing

 

Sanfernandohanon fishermen prepares as early as 3:00 AM. It is participated by not less than 10 fishermen who has different roles in the fishing practice – on board on two motorized bangkas. The group of fishermen travels 30 minutes to 1 hour to where they would perform the fishing practice.

 

Actual Video Documentation

III. History of Sikoy-Sikoy Festival

 

The Sikoy-Sikoy Festival was launched on May 2008, in time of the feast of San Isidro Labrador – the town’s Patron Saint. In August 2009, Sikoy-Sikoy Festival joined the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo at the Cebu International Convention Center.

Angelique Abalo from San Isidro, San Fernando was awarded as Best Solo Performer and 2nd Runner Up in the 2009 Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival Queen Search.

 

IV. Basic Steps & Jingle

 

The festival basic steps were established in 2008. The steps mimic the movements of the waves, flying fishes and the fishermen.

In 2024, the festival basic steps were re-established into 6 basic steps:

1. Arya (To Throw the Nets)
2. Bira (To Pull the Nets)
3. Taktak (To Shake the Nets)
4. Baligya (To Sell)
5. Halad (To Offer)
6. Sikoy-Sikoy (Mimicry of Fishes)

V. Festival Jingle Lyrics

 

Singers: Mas Cusgan, Arlee Brothers, Jerome Paradero
Musical Arrangement, Instruments and Additional Lyrics By: Russel Ching Alegado

I
Mangmata ta’g kadlawon
Mangadto ta’s baybayon
Bugsay ug pukot, hain na?

Iduot na;ng baruto
Adto nata sa lawod
Dali na! Ar’ya ta!

Adlaw kay nilili na
Ang pukot i-itsa
Bira na! bitara pa!
Nanglupad na sila!

CHORUS:
Sikoy-sikoy Oy Oy Oy
Id-las nga mga barunogy
Sikoy-sikoy Ay Ay Ay
Isdang naglikay-likay

Dali na saulogon ta
Magsadya na kita

Sikoy-sikoy
Sa San Fernando
Ipasigarbo

II
Tindera ni-kaway na
Andama ang banyera
Isda nagkisi-kisi pa

Timbanga ug daghan ba
Isdang pwerteng lab-asa
Mga suki naghinam-hinam na

Inun-unan ug tinuwa,
Magkilaw, magsugba
Mga lamas, nalunod na!
Mangaon na kita!

BRIDGE:
Dali na sa San Fernando
Saulogon ang atong garbo
Magsadya ta!
Maglipay ta!
Maghudyaka na ta!

Sikoy-sikoy, sayawon ta!
Sikoy-sikoy, isinggit ta!
Sikoy-sikoy, ipasigarbo ta!
Sikoy-sikoy, magpasalamat ta!

Gugma ug kakugi
Among ihalad sa Patron
San Isidro Labrador