Legazpi City gives go signal to Ibalong feast

LEGAZPI CITY—It’s all systems go for Ibalong Festival, this city’s annual fest that will reel off on Monday.

The festival, now in its 20th year, will be held from Aug. 8-22 and will showcase cultural, trade, tourism, entertainment and sports events expected to draw thousands of local and foreign tourists to the city, said  Mayor Carmen Geraldine Rosal, honorary chair of the Ibalong Executive Committee.

The two-week revelry would showcase close to 30 events highlighting various activities such as the Ibalong street presentation, Mutya ng Ibalong beauty pageant, Ibalong concert and street dancing, Ibalong Epic presentations, sports competitions and travel and tours showcases.

Rosal said the city government has allocated P4.5 million to finance the festivity.

The festival has originally been held every October of each year, but it was moved to August because, according to Rosal, organizers believed it would be better to hold it earlier to avoid competing with festivals in other provinces.

A pre-festival event would be held on Sunday with the Ibalong Fun Walk and Fun Run. On Monday, the festival will formally open with Mass, followed by the opening of the Ibalong trade fair, community and business forum and the Ibalong street party.