By Niño Luces
CASTILLA, Sorsogon – A coastal village in this town in Sorsogon launched last Saturday the Kasag (Crab) Festival to celebrate a bountiful harvest of blue crabs.
KASAG BOODLEFIGHT -A 300 meter long table for boodlefight was prepared at the main road of Brgy. Poblacion, Castilla town in Sorsogon province as residents celebrate 'Kasag Festival' on Saturday. At least 300 kilos of cooked blue crab or locally known as 'alimasag or kasag', cooked camote, ripe saba, cassava, and rice was prepared for guests, visitors, tourists and even residents. (NIÑO LUCES / MANILA BULLETIN)
Barangay Captain Alex Sotto of Poblacion told Manila Bulletin the festivity was institutionalized through barangay resolutions and ordinance, making it every month of June.
Poblacion has 788 households with 80 percent of them engaged in blue crab fishing.
"Maghanap ka ng alimasag sa buong mundo, dito ka lang nakaka-lasa sa Poblacion na manamis-namis ang alimasag. Ang rason kung bakit manamis-namis yung alimasag kasi nako-connect yung salt water at freshwater kung kaya nanu-neutralize yung lasa niya," Sotto said.
From 200 to 300 kilos of crabs are harvested daily.
"Seasonal din naman yung huli, magsisimula siya from April at dirediretso hanggang December," Sotto said.
The festivity was highlighted with street dance presentation, float parade, oath taking of a fisherfolk organization and a boodle fight on Saturday.
On Sunday, the biggest kasag was to be presented. Other activities scheduled were cooking contest and fluvial procession in honor the patron St. John the Baptist.
"In terms of the fishing industry, may mga ginawa na po tayong resolusyon at ordinansa para pangalagaan ang ating karagatan. So para hindi maabuso ang paghuhuli ng alimasag, mayroon po tayong ordinansa na bawal hulihin ang buntis na kasag. Sa readiness naman natin to accomodate tourists, as of now, we can only accomodate few numbers of visitors that would stay overnight," Sotto said.
Sotto sees Poblacion as an industrial zone of Sorsogon in the coming years due to the presence of the village fishport.