TACLOBAN CITY – The local government unit of Palo in Leyte will remember their people’s resiliency after super typhoon Yolanda through the “Estorya Festival.” Estorya (story telling) Festival which opened on October 31, highlighted the different stories of the people of Palo, the youth, and those involved during the time of relief operations and reconstruction efforts.
The stories were gathered during psychosocial support workshops conducted in evacuation centers, communities and schools.
“It will be a showcase of performances mainly reliving the events during and after the typhoon last November,” Palo Mayor Remedios L. Petilla said in a press briefing.
She added there are many stories of struggles, heroism and triumph of ordinary people that are very ‘inspirational.’
“This festival is mostly performances that will honor the people of Palo’s resiliency and also that we may never forget the lesson of that devastating storm,” Petilla said.
Sharing stories have become an avenue for healing for most of the people who experienced Typhoon Yolanda and seen as valuable to share this in the form of visual arts, the lady mayor added.
The many stories gathered, it was learned, will be transformed into creative presentation such as theatre plays, interpretative dances, poetry, songs, shadow puppetry, photos, video presentation and art exhibits.
The festival is also aligned with the Filipino tradition of the nine-day Novena, which honors the departed and gives hope for the living.
The first year of commemoration will also pay tribute to all who departed from the calamity and a salute to the bayanihan (heroism) spirit exhibited by the people of Palo.
Nightly performances will feature local artists from Palo, Chikaken Group from Kamomoto, Japan, the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), and other guest performers.
In November, bells from the various churches in Palo as well as other towns in Leyte will simultaneously ring, symbolizing the time that typhoon Yolanda started its onslaught last year. Sirens from police and fire stations are likewise encouraged to be sounded off at the same time.
The festival runs from October 31 to November 8 at the town’s Pag-ibig Plaza. (PNA)
