Bicol festivals wow crowds in Sorsogon’s ‘Kasanggayahan’

MERRYMAKING IN BICOLANDIA Street dancers representing the Cagsawa Festival from Daraga, Albay, perform during the National Festival of Festivals at the Kasanggayahan Festival in Sorsogon City on Wednesday. Performers from Bicol and other regions joined the grand showdown to showcase the country’s rich culture through local festivals. —Mark Alvic Esplana

SORSOGON CITY, Philippines — Amid the scorching heat, CJ Leijen, 61, joined the crowd in this provincial capital of Sorsogon on Tuesday as Bicol’s top festivals were showcased at Kasanggayahan Festival’s “Regional Festival of Festivals” competition.

Leijen, who was originally from the Netherlands but chose to live here, said it was his fourth time watching the festival, but he still felt the same thrill and excitement.

“It’s very nice. I like the culture, the different colors, and the effort people paid. And I admire them because it’s not easy with this temperature,” he said.

He said his first Kasanggayahan experience was 24 years ago, which was one of the reasons he returned to Sorsogon and stayed for good.

Living here for three years now, he said he enjoyed the lively and enduring tradition.

All six provinces in Bicol sent their respective entries in the competition, joining the grand celebration of Sorsogon as it marked its 130th anniversary as a province.

The three winners in this regional competition advanced to the “National Festival of Festivals” competition on Wednesday, where some of the country’s major festivals participated in the grand event.

Among the competing contingents from Bicol were the Kahamugaway Festival of Cawayan, Masbate; the Pinyasan Festival of Camarines Norte; and the Sugbo Festival of Caramoan, Catanduanes.

Camarines Sur sent two delegations—the Kamuy-an Festival of Baao and the Voyadores Festival of Naga City.

Albay’s two major festivals, Ibalong of Legazpi City and Cagsawa of Daraga town, also participated in the competition.

Meanwhile, the host province had four competing teams—the Gayon Ciudad Festival of this city, the Bulusan Festival of Bulusan, the Padaraw Festival of Bulan and Parau Festival of Pilar.

Winners

Cebu’s Sinulog Festival emerged as champion in the National Festival of Festivals grand showdown. Among Bicol’s contingents, the Cagsawa Festival was the second runner-up, while the Gayun Ciudad Festival was the third runner-up.

Bobby Gigantone, Sorsogon tourism officer, said the main goal of this year’s celebration was to promote the province as “a prime destination in Bicolandia.”

“As part of our marketing and promotional strategies, incorporating events at the regional and national levels is one way of introducing the province,” he said.