Author

Shella Mae E. Balatucan
Capiz State University-Main Campus
Roxas City, Capiz, Philippines
Email: shellamae.balatucan@deped.gov.ph

Abstract

Born from legend, labor, and lived experience, Maragtas sang Capisnon unfolded not merely as a festival but as a communal act of remembering. Through movement, music, and collective sacrifice, the celebration narrated how Capisnons understood their origins, affirmed their identity, and sustained cultural memory across generations. This study examined the Maragtas sang Capisnon as both a cultural representation and a lived community experience by exploring its socio-cultural significance, participants’ experiences, and the economic, logistical, and institutional challenges that shaped its implementation. The study employed a qualitative narrative inquiry research design and drew data from semi-structured interviews with 18 purposively selected participants comprised of organizers, trainers, and performers from various municipalities in Capiz. Thematic analysis was used to interpret participants’ narratives and uncover shared meanings regarding cultural engagement, community impact, and operational realities. Findings revealed a recurring tension between sacrifice and fulfillment. Participants described enduring physical exhaustion, emotional strain, and personal financial burden, yet these hardships were consistently balanced by profound cultural pride, creative fulfillment, and strengthened community bonds. Socio-culturally, the celebration functioned as a powerful mechanism for reinforcing Capisnon identity, historical awareness, and social cohesion. The collective process of preparation and performance fostered a strong “pride of place,” transforming historical narratives into shared embodied experiences. Economically and logistically, however, the festival faced persistent challenges, including inadequate and delayed funding, limited infrastructure, unclear guidelines, and compressed preparation timelines. These constraints affected production quality and participant welfare while revealing the fragility of a system heavily reliant on voluntary sacrifice. The study concluded that while Maragtas sang Capisnon successfully served as a living archive of Capisnon culture and memory, its long-term sustainability depended on strategic improvements. Stronger institutional support, systematic planning, deeper cultural grounding, and enhanced participant welfare were identified as essential to preserving the festival’s role as a chronicle of culture, community, and memory.

Keywords: Maragtas, Capisnon, cultural festival, community identity, cultural preservation, qualitative research

DOI: http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS0501820

Recommended citation:
Balatucan, S. M. E. (2026). Maragtas sang Capisnon: Chronicles of culture, community and memory. Pantao (The International Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences) 5 (1), 9169-9191. http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS0501820

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