KALIBO, Aklan – Every December 28 along the national highway of Ibajay, Aklan, a group of men wear masks portraying various evil characters. They stop passenger jeepneys and ask for alms. For some, this tradition is horrifying but for the Ibajaynons, the holiday season is not complete without celebrating their Yawa-Yawa (demon) Festival.

Ibajaynons are already accustomed seeing people wearing Halloween costumes every December 28 roaming around their town. This is part of their Christmas tradition.

But the wearing of Halloween costumes is not just for asking for alms among their neighbors. It is also meant to discipline their children and teach them to behave or they will be kidnapped by the ‘yawa’ (demon).

Eighteen-year-old Miko Delfin recalled that when he was six years old his father paid the ‘yawa’ men to abduct him and urge him to behave.

“At the time, I was not aware of the deal made by my father with the yawa yawa participants. I always wanted to roam around the town alone so I was surprised when the ‘evil’ men forcibly took me. They did not release me until I gave them the P3 I have in my pocket. My father later told me that he ordered the ‘yawa’ men to abduct me so that I would stop roaming around town,” Delfin related.

Many parents in Ibajay allow the yawa yawa participants to harass their children to make them behave.

The participants also visit houses not only to ask for Christmas gifts but also to take your personal belongings.

“One time, I left my newly washed clothes outside when I was informed that it was taken by a yawa yawa participant. To get it back, I gathered all the leftover food inside the house and gave it to the one who took my clothes. For us here in Ibajay, it’s part of the fun and tradition every Christmas,” said Rudy Ann Cerencio.

Cerencio also revealed that the yawa yawa participants also took the image of child Jesus and paraded it around the town. She said the Catholic Church had to pay certain goods to get the image back.

Dante Mijares, a non-government organization worker, said most of the participants who join the annual Yawa Yawa Festival are residents of Brgys. Capilian, Maloco and Laguinbanua.

“I am not sure why the residents of these barangays actively participate in it. The said barangays are along the national highway where tourists bound for Boracay Island pass. So for them, it’s part of their tourism endeavor by scaring tourists and residents onboard a public utility vehicle asking for Christmas gifts,” explained Mijares.

On the other hand, Father Emmanuele “Am” Mijares told Panay News that based on his research, the tradition may have started in Brgy. Maloco many years ago.

“By oral tradition, as told by Jun Placio, it (Yawa Yawa Festival) aimed at commemorating the holy innocents. On the morning of Dec. 28, some people summoned by a bell gather at the chapel to pray for the holy innocents. After which, they organize into groups dressed as devils (with coconut materials) to go around the barrio to scare children so they will become good. Understandably, those who are bad will be caught under the reign of the devil. They also go house to house to ask for some money,” Mijares said.

He confirmed that the participants before succeeded in “hiding” the image of Baby Jesus to prove that they are evil but it was also returned after the symbolic giving of ransom money or food.

“Now, they also go to the town. Some groups from other barrios do the same. Since this was purely a lay initiative, the church does not have any official comment about it. Surely, it originated from a religious event, the Feast of the Holy Innocents, and I think it encourages children and adults to remain innocent, though not naive. It appears, too, that they have a municipal permit to do this in Ibajay,” Mijares said.