Bohol town holds centuries-old fiesta ritual
LOBOC, BOHOL—Devotees filled the historic St. Peter the Apostle Parish Church on Sunday, gathering before the revered image of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Extremadura in a solemn display of faith during Loboc town’s 183rd fiesta celebration.
Some carried candles, others clutched handkerchiefs, while many whispered silent prayers as they gathered before the image at the church entrance, swaying gently to the ancient rhythm of the “Bolibongkingking,” a ritual that has echoed through generations of Lobocanons.
For Vera Villocido, 59, an educator and resident of Tagbilaran, this year’s fiesta marked a deeply personal milestone.
For the first time, she stepped into the circle and joined the dance.
Together with fellow educators and cultural researchers Rosalina Sarabosing-Rara and Maria Lourdes Culpa, Villocido danced before the centuries-old Marian image, taking part in a devotion and cultural tradition that has endured in Loboc for nearly two centuries.
“The Bolibongkingking brings many things to those who dance it,” Villocido told the Inquirer.
She added, “For me, it brings peace and tranquility. In the midst of life’s pressures and uncertainties, dancing becomes a form of release and renewal.”
Healing
As drums echoed across the church grounds, devotees moved in unison—some touching aching parts of their bodies, others lifting infants toward the image of the Virgin in prayer for healing and protection.
In Loboc, the Bolibongkingking is more than a dance. It is prayer in motion.
The tradition dates back to 1843 and remains one of Bohol’s most enduring expressions of faith and culture. The ritual involves dancing before the caro, or carriage, of a patron saint.
Over generations, the dance has evolved into a sacred fiesta ritual deeply woven into the identity of Loboc.
