Festivals

Pabirik Festival February 1-2 Paracale, Camarines Norte Held in the town of Paracale, the festival is highlighted by pabirik street dancing, depicting the gold mining industry in the province. Office of the Mayor Paracale, Cam. Norte Bicol Arts Festival February 1-28 Legazpi City A week-long festival showcasing the regions arts and culture, crafts and agro-industrial products coming from the six (6) provinces and three (3) cities of Bicol. It coincides with the celebration of the National Arts Month every February. Dr. Ramona B. Raeses Dean, Graduate School Bicol University, Legazpi City Telefax: (052) 480-1454 Tinagba Festival February 11 Iriga City A tradition of the first harvest offering coinciding on the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes. Derived from the early rituals of the ancient Bicolanos offering their harvest to their own gods as a form of thanksgiving and to seek favor for a more bountiful harvest throughout the year. A long parade of colorfully and grandiosely decorated bull and carabao carts, carrying newly harvested crops, ending with a mass before the Emerald Grotto at Calvary Hills. Here all the offerings are blessed, then distributed to indigent families. Ms. Marilyn Okuszko City Tourism Officer Tourism Devt. Office Iriga City Tel. No. (054) 655-1387 Fax: (054) 655-0330 1st Annual Harana: Karantahan nin Pagranga (A Music Festival) February 14 San Jose, Camarines Sur The festival feature local talents and young artists in its effortsa to promote cultural awareness, tourism development and youth empowerment in the District of partido. Highlighted by the Bicol Love Song Choral Competition. Other activities are lined up to drumbeat the affair. Office of the Mayor San Jose, Camarines Sur Karanowan Fish-tival February 15

Bato, Camarines Sur Acelebration promoting the rich aquatic resources of Lake Bato. Derived from local dialect ranow meaning lake, participants are clad in fish-like costumes depicting the different indigenous fish of Bato Lake while gracefully dancing to creatively choreographed movements in their gaily colored unique outfits fashioned from indigenous materials. Office of the Mayor Bato, Camarines Sur Himag-ulaw Festival February 17 Placer, Masbate A celebration of praise and thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest in farming or good catch in fishing expressed through various forms of activities like street dancing, beauty competition, games and contests, food fairs, among others. Mayor Carlos Estonilo Office of the Mayor Placer, Masbate Rodeo Masbateo April 6-8 Masbate Hold on to your horses, caballeros, its rodeo time in Masbate once again! Feel the excitement as our local cowboys pit their brains against bovine brawn in western style rodeo events like bull riding and sterr wrestling, apart from our local games like the good old carabao race. So put on them boots and saddle up its gonna be a rope-slingin, dust-kickin, cowpunchibn affair. MR. Jose C. Zafra Tourism Office Office of the Governor Masbate City Tel. No.: (056)333-2176/333-3012 Baybayon A Festival of Advocacy April 9-20 Bacacay, Albay Senakulo Good Friday Paracale This is lenten presentation reenacting the Passion of Christ. Lenten observance includes Visita Iglesias or altar visitations and processions. Office of the Mayor Paracale, Camarines Norte Tel No. (054) 449-1008 Kadagatan Festival Black Saturday Bacacay, Albay A boat race of outriggered sea crafts powdered manually, while Palayag is another boat race

with sails. The grandiose spectacle is the show of colorful sails set against the backdrop of Albay Gulf puncture by the deep ultramarine color of the sea. Participants from the different parts of Albay merge in this small in this small progressive coastal town of Bacacay to join, win big cash prizes and earn the honor of most skilled sailor. Mayor Eligio Berango Bacacay, Albay Tel. No. (052) 487-2010 Partido Baybayon Festival April 26-28 Sagay, Camarines Sur This festival showcases the different tourism areas in the district and launch the municipality of Sagay as summer capital of Partido. Visitors converge in Nato shoreline or Baybayon in local dialect where various activities are featured. Mayor Roberto Briones Sagay, Cam. Sur Tel. No.: (054)452-3530 Butanding Festival April 28-30 Donsol, Sorsogon A festival which ushers the Butanding (whaleshark season) and a thanksgiving for the blessings that it give to the people of Donsol. The festival is highlighted by a street parade. Ms. Nitz Pedragoza Donsol Visitors Center Donsol, Sorsogon Boa-Boahan Alinsangan Festival May 1 Nabua, Camarines Sur A colorful cultural festival of pagan origin. Derived from the dialect, alinsangan, a word that describes the characteristics of the people living in the early settlements. It is a festival showing fertility and thanksgiving. Fertility, because Boa was taken from the young embryo of the coconut and thanksgiving for it was their only source of food after the ravage of floodwaters. Office of the Mayor Nabua, Camarines Sur Magayon Festival May 1-31 Albay A festival in the merry month of May, showcasing Albay as it comes to age, its cultural heritage, trade, travel and tourism beyond Majestic Mount Mayon. The festival includes various activity such as beauty pageant, photo/art exhibit, street parade, trade fair, sports fest, guided tours, etc. Ms. Denise Silerio Provl. Tourism Officer Albay - PTCAO Albay Astrodome Complex Legazpi City Tel. No. (052) 480-4956/57

Dayaw Dalan Festival May 1-3 San Jacinto, Ticao Island, Masbate Dayaw is an old Tigaonon term which means to show off, parade or display . In its strictest meaning, dayaw is to present with pride what is distinctly and essentially inherent in a person. Dalan on the other hand, means in olden times, a mountain trail which now includes path, street and highway. Dayaw Dalan Festival symbolizes the best of what the municipality of San Jacinto have as a town and as a people. The festival is held in honor of its patron saint, Santo Cristo de Burgos. Office of the Mayor San Jacinto, Masbate Palong Festival May 10-13 Capalonga, Camarines Norte Higlighted by a street dancing and agro industrial fair which expresses local folks gratitude for their towns name etymology and signifies the abundant presence of rooster available in the locality. Held also in celebration of their Black Nazarenes Feast Day on May 13. Mr. Abel Icatlo Provincial Tourism Officer Provincial Captiol Daet, Cam. Norte Tel. No. (054) 721-4341 Fax: 440-2013 Black Nazarene Feast May 13 Capalonga, Camarines Norte A two-day religious festivity in honor of the towns Patron Saint, the Black Nazarene, which is the object of veneration not only by the locals but by foreign devotees as well. It is highlighted by a pligrimage where people come in thousands to give in their respect to the miraculous Patron Saint. Mr. Abel Icatlo Provincial Tourism Officer Provincial Captiol Daet, Cam. Norte Tel. No. (054) 721-4341 Fax: 440-2013 Sarung Banggi Festival May 18-25 Sto. Domingo, Albay A fun-filled 8-day summer activity to immortalize the song Sarung Banggi and pay tribute to its composer Potenciano Gregorio. It showcases a variety of cultural and religious activities, food and sports fest, Beauty Search, folksong fest, agro-industrial fair and many more. Office of the Mayor Sto. Domingo, albay Tel. No.: (052) 487-1002

Catandungan Padayaw Festival May 20-24 Virac, Catanduanes Padadyaw is an old Catandunganon term which means to show ones best with pride and dignity coupled with excitement. This is a street-dancing of delegation per town to the tune of Pantomina. The towns are encouraged to flaunt its own image by associating its delegations costume and dance to what the town is best known for. Ms. Carmel Bonifacio Office of the Governor Virac, Catanduanes Tel. No. (054) 811-1141-75 F: 811-1335 Kaogma Festival May 21-27 Camarines Sur A week-long celebration of the of the foundation anniversary of the Province of Camarines Sur. The festival features numerous activities such as cultural expositions, sports events, beauty pageant, procession and Grand Parade. Ms. Mariefe Nolasco Head, PTCSO Provincial Capitol Cadlan, Pili, Cam. Sur Tel. No. (054)477-3172 Fax: 473-0391 Padaraw Festival May 30 Bulan, Sorsogon A festival showcsing colorful costumes fashioned from the abaca fiber. It is highlighted by a grand street presentation wherein the participants are clad in colorful costumes using the abaca fibers. Ms. Lynda Asuncion Argao Public Information Officer Municipality of Bulan Bulan, Sorsogon Tabak Festival June 16-21 Tabaco City Held in conjunction with the celebration of the Citys 1st Foundation Anniversary. The festival derived its name from a local word Tabak , meaning bolo, where the name of the City (Tabaco) was taken from. Its highlight is a street presentation where participants showcases the legend of the City. Numerous other activities are lined up to drum beat the affair. Dir. Maria O. Ravanilla DOT-V, Rawis, Legazpi City Tel. No. (052) 820-3664/ 482-0712/Fax: 820-5066

 Oyange Kaugman Festival June 20-29 Polangui, Albay Office of the Mayor Polangui, Albay Tel. No. ()52) 486-1096 Fax: 212-6285 Pili Festival June 20-29 Sorsogon, Sorsogon Pili is an indigenous crop of Bicol region, particularly Sorsogon. This festival showcases the Pili, the primary purpose of which is to emphasize its importance and to increase the awareness of the public on its various economic uses. One way of doing this is through a street dance presentation, a highlight of the festival. The street dance presents the three (3) stages of Pili, from green (young fruit) to violet (half-mature) to black (mature) nuts and how it is being processed into different kinds of sweets and delicacies. Office of the Mayor Sorsogon, Sorsogon or Mrs. Cecilia H. Duran Tel. No. (056) 211-1357 Ginubat Festival June 11-12 Gubat, Sorsogon A festival based on the roots of the town of which its name was derived. It features the following activities: cultural street parade, exhibits, sailboat race, beauty pageant, fiesta celebration and the Balik-Gubat which is the highlight of the festival. Office of the Mayor Gubat, Sorsogon Katalingkasan Festival July 21-25 Libon, Albay Katalingkasan which means freedom and rebirth, is held in conjunction with the Libon Town Fiesta and the feast of its Patron Saint, St. James the Greater. The festival aims to revive the rich cultural heritage of the town and at the same time promote local tourism. Ms. Agnes Dycoco c/o Office of the Mayor Libon, Albay Tel. No. (052) 486-6101 Mercedes Fishtival August 6-11 Mercedes, Camarines Norte It is a fishermens holiday celebration, in which said festivity is dedicated as a time of annual thanksgiving for the blessings and bounty received from the Almighty during the seafaring, fishing expeditions and fish farming endeavors. The fishtival is not only a week-long merry making but

also a moment of retrospect and recognition of Mother Nature for having endowed Mercedes with a gift of vast fishery resources, magnificent shorelines and other aquatic potentials and the wise utilization and preservation of ecological balance for the attainment of environmental dignity and beauty. Office of the Mayor Mercedes, Camarines Norte Tel. No. (054) 440-1011 Pagsuwak Festival August 12-17 Guinobatan, Albay Derived from a local word suwak meaning the process of flowering or blossoming, thus, pagsuwak is a sign of growth, devewlopment and progress of the municipality. The festival, therefore, which is held to coincide with the town fiesta signifies act of thanksgiving for the bounties from the land. Various activities are lined up highlighted by a street presentation. Mr. Art Osia Office of the Mayor Guinoabatan, Albay Tel. No.: (052) 838-0211 Coron Festival August 15-17 Tiwi, Albay Coron is a Bicol dialect meaning clay-pot or potteries of which the town of Tiwi is popularly known for. Thus, the festivals main feature is the municipalities pottery industry which is done with skills passed from parents to children and perfected through long years of practice without the benfit of written manuals. Highlight of the festival is a Street Presentation. Office of the Mayor Tiwi, Albay Tel. No. (052) 488-5975 F: 488-5051 Pilgrimage to Joroan 3rd Saturday of August Joroan, Tiwi, Albay Every 3rd Saturday of August, thousands of devotees flocked to this coastal town in Albay to pay homage to the miraculous image of Our Lady of Salvation, Patroness of albay. It is highlighted by a maritime procession after a mass at Joroan Church. The image is carried by the menfolks down to the beach where a large and well-decorated trawl boat is docked. An entourage of similarly decorated pumpboats follow, carrying the pilgrims and devotees to the shores and village at Sogod where a concelebrated mass is held again. Mrs. Maria O. Ravanilla Regional Director DOT-Region V Rawis, Legazpi City Tel. Nos. (052) 482-0712 820-3664 Fax: (052) 820-5066

Daragang Magayon Festival August 26-September 8 Daraga, Albay A historical and religious celebration in honor of the towns patron saint, Our Lady of the Gate. It aims to showcase the cultural life of Daragueos. Various colorful activities are lined up for this celebration. Mr. Eugene Sangil Mun. Information officer Daraga, Albay Tel: (052) 824-3172/3161 Voyadores Festival 3rd Friday of September Naga City Borne on the shoulders of her male devotees, and her voyage back in a fluvial procession along the Bicol River. It is named after the male devotees (voyadores) who accompany and carry the Virgins image in a procession called Traslacion for a Novena at the Metropolitan Cathedral Ms. Amelita P. Saenz Chairman, DIBA Found. 106 Jacob St., Naga City Tel. No. (054) 473-9949 Peafrancia Festival 3rd Saturday of September Naga City A religious festival honoring the feast day of Our Lady of Peafrancia, Patroness of the Bicol Region. The festivity begins on the second Friday of September when the Image of the Virgin of Peafrancia is carried by hundreds of male devotees from her shrine to Naga Cathedral. Main highlight is the fluvial procession along the Naga River. Office of the Mayor Naga City Tel. No. (054) 473-2240 Fax: (054) 811-1286 Himoloan Festival September 28-29 Oas, Albay This festival commemorates the Patronal Feast of St. Michael the Archangel. Himoloan literally means pag-atang or tinagba (offering). Thus, it is the time of the year when the faithful honor their patron, St. Michael on the Feast of the Archangels by offering to him not only material goods but the talents that God bestowed upon all as well. Its highlight is the Himoloan street presentation and the Carrosa Contest wherein it is participated by the different barangay and is also open to other barangays of other nearby towns to gather and bring the carrosa/andas of their patron decorated with their produce as well as native materials found within their reach. Office of the Mayor Oas, Albay Tel. No. (052) 485-6022

Hin-Ay Festival September 28-29 Irosin, Sorsogon This festival is a commemoration of the feast day of the towns Patron Saint, St. Michael the Archangel, and at the same time a rediscovery of the towns cultural heritage. The festival traces the struggles of the people of Irosin at various stages of its history and aims to renew the enthusiasm and faith among people for sustained involvement in community building. Various activities include: Mardi Gras, which depicts the victory of the Archangels over the Black Angel, cultural show, agro-trade fair, beauty pageant, food festival, among others. Office of the Mayor Irosin, Sorsogon Ibalong Festival October Legazpi City A festival depicting Bicols early beginning as portrayed by the characters in the epic entitled IBALONG. The name was the early nomenclature of Bicol region. It showcases many superheroes such as Handiong, Baltog and Bantong among others. The festival is highlighted by a street presentation where masks of heroes and villains are paraded on mainstreets, combined with song and dances. Other activities include trade fair, art exhibit, sports fest such as the triathlon, guided tours, beauty pageant and other colorful competitions. Ms. Ma. Aissa N. Sabio Acting City Tourism Officer Legazpi City Tel. No. (052) 820-3679 Kasanggayahan Festival October 15-25 Sorsogon, Sorsogon This festival was derived from the dialect which means prosperity and happiness . It is a joyous celebration held primarily to commemorate the Foundation Anniversary of Sorsogon since its establishment as a separate province from Albay. The highlight is the Pantomina sa Tinampo participated in by LGUs, schools, NGOs and other civic organizations. Office of the Governor Sorsogon, Sorsogon Tel. No. (056) 211-1398 Fax: (056) 211-2121 Catandungan Festival October 22-24 Virac, Catanduanes A celebration of the provinces anniversary and tribute to its founders, to continuously remind the people of Catanduanes of the provinces independence from the province of Albay. Main features of the festival are: street dance Pantomina, beauty pageant, agro-trade fair, sports fest, guided tour, art/photo exhibits, etc. Office of the Governor Virac, Catanduanes Tel. Nos. (052) 811-1571/811-1690

Pastores Bicol December 18 Legazpi City An interpretative folk festival related to the celebration of Christmas tradition. It reenacts the rejoicing shepherds who sang the first Christmas Carol during the birth of Baby Jesus in Bethlehem. Locally known as pastores , here they are clad in colorful costumes with the traditional arc and musikeros as they sing and dance to the tune of Pastores a Belen. Mrs. Maria O. Ravanilla Regional Director DOT-Region V Legazpi City Tel. No. (0-52) 482-0712 Fax: 820-5066 Kamundagan Festival December 1-31 Naga City In the month of December, Naga City opens its door for a whole month in celebrating its charter anniversary and the Birth of Christ with the cooperative efforts of Camarines Sur and Naga City. The festivity seeks to boost tourism, expand business and provide livelihood opportunities by showcasing various activities, the highlights of which are the kiri-kiti , pastoras , beauty search, agro-industrial fair, civic parade, cultural shows and other colorful events. Office of the Mayor Tel. No. (054) 473-2240 Fax: (054) 811-1286