JULITA, LEYTE– Without beaches, waterfalls, or iconic landmarks to draw crowds, Julita is embracing its cultural heritage through the revived ‘Hulatan’ Festival, hoping to transform tradition into a tourism asset and a catalyst for economic development.
Determined to preserve local traditions while creating new opportunities for tourism and economic growth, the local government has revived the Hulatan Festival, breathing new life into a celebration that reflects the town’s rich history, culture, and identity.
Julita Mayor Irvin R. Dy said that after years of inactivity since 2019, the festival is once again a major highlight in this year’s town fiesta and has returned as more than just a colorful spectacle. It is now envisioned as a platform to reconnect younger generations with their heritage, encourage community pride, and showcase Hulatan as an emerging cultural destination in Leyte.
“The Hulatan Festival is more than a celebration, it is a tribute to our history, our culture, and the resilience of the people of Julita. Through its revival, we hope to strengthen community unity, preserve our heritage, and showcase our town to visitors, allowing tourism to become a catalyst for growth and greater opportunities for our local businesses,” Dy said.
The Hulatan Festival is the official town festival of Julita, Leyte coinciding the town’s fiesta celebration on August 12 of their patron saint, St. Roch (San Roque). Derived from the local Waray word “hulatan,” which translates to “wait” or “anticipation,” the festival depicts the historical events that led to the creation and independence of the municipality.
In this year’s revival of the festival, five contingents from different schools and organization in the municipality competed by showcasing the town’s rich history and cultural heritage. The participants performed vibrant festival dances that interpreted the origins and cultural significance of the Hulatan Festival through colorful costumes, synchronized choreography, and creative storytelling.
Dr. Nelson Enage, Vice President for Academic Offairs of Palompon Institute of Technology, was among the judge for the competition. He praised the event as a promising cultural celebration, saying it has the potential to become more than just a local festival dance competition.
Enage, who is an esteemed expert in Philippine creative festival dancing and folk arts, noted that all five competing contingents successfully presented creative interpretations of the festival’s theme while effectively showcasing the history and cultural identity of Julita through their performances.
“So far, all five contingents exhibited thoughtful interpretations. They wisely presented the concept, production design, and storytelling of what the Hulatan Festival is all about. Overall, it was a meaningful showcase of Julita’s culture,” Enage said.
Winning this year is the Julita National High School with their colorful and creative interpretation and meaningful presentation of the town’s tumultuous journey to becoming a municipality before it was finally granted independence.
Enage also encouraged trainers and choreographers to deepen their understanding of the festival’s origins through extensive research, strike a balance between culture and innovation and preserve the true meaning of the Hulatan Festival for future generations.
Local officials meanwhile said the revival is part of a broader strategy to promote sustainable tourism by highlighting what makes Hulatan unique. Beyond attracting visitors, the festival provides opportunities for local entrepreneurs, food vendors, transport operators, and other local businesses to benefit from increased economic activity.
For many longtime residents of Julita, they see it as a meaningful way to preserve local customs, while young people gain a deeper appreciation of their cultural roots through active participation in performances and heritage activities.
Cultural festivals have become powerful drivers of local development, creating jobs, stimulating small businesses, and strengthening community identity. By investing in heritage-based tourism, LGU Julita is poised to join other municipalities in Leyte that have successfully transformed local traditions into sustainable tourism assets.
As music fills the streets and dancers proudly perform stories of the town’s past, the revived Hulatan Festival stands as a celebration of resilience, identity, and hope. More than preserving tradition, it opens new doors for inclusive growth, proving that culture remains one of the strongest foundations for community development and tourism in the years ahead.
(AHLETTE C. REYES, PIA-LEYTE)
