Sometime in 2004, our parish priest called our attention to the Ati-Atihan Festival in our town. He challenged us to create a unique and distinct festival for Lavezares, noting that the Ati-Atihan we had celebrated for more than two decades was merely adapted from Aklan.
Together with two cultural workers in our town, we decided to meet and conceptualize a new festival for Lavezares. Even before the meeting, I already had a concept and a name in mind. My ideas were guided by a seminar-workshop on festival management conducted by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). From that seminar, it became clear to me that a festival must be deeply rooted in the culture and history of the town to be truly unique and meaningful.
When we met, I presented my proposal to name the festival Pinonayan, the old name of Lavezares. I explained that it would highlight the livelihoods and industries of our people from the different barangays. Since it would be celebrated during the Feast of the Santo Niño, it was fitting that the dance presentations be offered as a prayer of thanksgiving for the bountiful harvests and abundant blessings from God. In essence, the Pinonayan Festival would be a dance of praise to the Santo Niño for the overflowing harvests and blessings bestowed upon the people of Lavezares.
I was delighted when my idea was warmly received by the two cultural workers. One of them volunteered to prepare the festival mechanics and asked me to translate them into English. A few days later, I presented the concept to our parish priest, and he immediately gave his approval.
In January 2005, we staged the first Pinonayan Festival. I handled the program and led the management team. The festival was funded with ₱50,000 from the Local Government Unit. From then on, we have successfully organized the festival every year. This year, we celebrate its 26th edition.
All of these, I can only attribute to Señor Santo Niño, the true focal point of the celebration.
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