Tisa’s Famous Siomai Festival Gets Just P300K — Cebu City Council Wants P400K More

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City’s famous Siomai sa Tisa Festival may receive a major funding boost after city councilors questioned why one of the city’s biggest barangay celebrations was initially allocated just P300,000 in financial assistance.

Councilors are now asking the Cebu City Government to release an additional P400,000, potentially raising total City Hall assistance for this year’s festival to P700,000.

The move comes just weeks before the 10-day Siomai sa Tisa Festival, scheduled from Sept. 18 to 27, 2026, in Barangay Tisa.

But the request has also opened a bigger question:

Why are some barangay festivals receiving hundreds of thousands more in government assistance than one of Cebu City’s most popular food and cultural celebrations?

Councilors question P300K allocation

The issue surfaced while the Cebu City Council discussed a resolution authorizing P300,000 from the City Sponsored Activities Fund for the annual Siomai sa Tisa Festival.

Several councilors questioned whether the amount was enough.

Councilor Joel Garganera said the festival is among the biggest barangay-based celebrations in Cebu City, particularly in terms of attendance and the scale of its activities.

That prompted him to question the criteria used by the City Government in determining how much financial assistance different barangay festivals receive.

For Garganera and other councilors, the issue is not simply about asking for more money.

It is also about whether there is a clear and consistent basis for deciding which festivals receive P300,000, P500,000 or even P700,000 in government assistance.

Why are other festivals getting more?

Councilor Mikel Rama pointed to previous financial assistance granted to other barangay celebrations, including allocations worth P700,000 and P500,000.

He argued that the difference was difficult to justify given the popularity and prominence of the Siomai sa Tisa Festival.

Rama described the festival as one of the foremost barangay celebrations in Cebu City and raised concerns about what he called a glaring discrepancy in the amounts being granted to different festivals.

The debate has now transformed a routine funding resolution into a wider discussion about how Cebu City distributes money for cultural and community events.

Council approves request for another P400K

Following the discussion, the Cebu City Council approved a corollary motion asking Mayor Nestor Archival to consider releasing an additional P400,000.

If approved, the total financial assistance from the City Government would rise from P300,000 to P700,000.

However, the additional funding is not yet automatic.

Councilor Philip Zafra, who sponsored the resolution, explained that the amount of assistance for City-sponsored activities ultimately falls under the discretion of the executive department through the Office of the Mayor.

Zafra said he personally supported giving the festival more funding but acknowledged that the council must respect the amount approved by the executive branch.

That means the festival’s final P700,000 funding target remains subject to the mayor’s consideration.

Why the Siomai sa Tisa Festival matters

The Siomai sa Tisa Festival is more than a food event.

It has become one of Barangay Tisa’s biggest annual celebrations and a showcase of the community’s culinary identity.

The festival traces its roots to 2012, when Barangay Tisa launched the celebration in honor of its patron saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz.

After the success of its first staging, the barangay made the event an annual tradition.

Over the years, the celebration expanded from its religious roots into a major community festival centred on Tisa’s signature siomai and local culture.

The 2026 edition is expected to continue that evolution with a 10-day celebration from Sept. 18 to 27.

From religious celebration to Cebu food icon

Tisa has become widely associated with siomai, making the festival a natural celebration of both food and community identity.

Previous editions have featured a mix of cultural performances, competitions, community activities and food-centred events.

The festival’s scale has also required substantial financial support in the past.

In 2024, SunStar reported that the festival’s activities had a total budget of around P2.5 million, with funding coming from the Cebu City Government, Barangay Tisa and private sponsors.

That historical context helps explain why some councilors are questioning whether P300,000 in City Hall assistance is enough for the growing festival.

The bigger issue: How does Cebu fund its festivals?

The debate over the Siomai sa Tisa Festival has exposed a larger issue surrounding public funding for barangay celebrations.

Cebu is known for its festivals.

From large-scale celebrations such as Sinulog to smaller community-based fiestas, cultural events play an important role in tourism, local identity and community participation.

But public funding for these events can vary significantly.

The City Council’s latest discussion suggests some officials want greater clarity on how financial assistance is determined.

Should funding be based on:

• Festival attendance?
• Economic and tourism impact?
• Cultural importance?
• Length and number of activities?
• Historical significance?
• Available barangay resources?

For now, there appears to be no publicly detailed formula discussed in the latest council deliberations that automatically guarantees a specific amount for each barangay festival.

Instead, City-sponsored assistance remains subject to executive discretion through the Office of the Mayor.

Festival organizers wait for the mayor’s decision

The immediate question now is whether Mayor Archival will approve the additional P400,000.

If he does, the Siomai sa Tisa Festival will receive a total of P700,000 in City Government assistance.

If not, organizers will proceed with the original P300,000 allocation and seek support from other available sources.

The festival is now just days away, making the funding decision increasingly important for organizers finalizing activities and preparations.

A small budget fight over a big Cebu celebration

At first glance, the debate may appear to be about just P400,000.

But for Cebu City councilors, it has become a question of fairness.

They argue that if other barangay festivals can receive P500,000 or P700,000, one of the city’s biggest and most recognizable community celebrations deserves to be considered for comparable support.

The Siomai sa Tisa Festival has grown from a barangay celebration launched in 2012 into a major showcase of Cebuano food, culture and community pride.

Now, with the 2026 edition approaching, City Hall faces a decision.

Will P300,000 be the final amount — or will the famous Tisa siomai festival get the additional P400,000 its supporters are asking for?

For now, the council has made its position clear.

The request is on the mayor’s table. The final P400,000 decision is still pending.

WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D