Ibalong Festival
Legazpi City, Albay
October 25-31
A celebration depicting Bicol's early beginnings as portrayed in the "Ibalong" epic that tells of super heroes Handiong, Batlog and Oryol and villains and wild animals that roamed in the ancient times. In music and dances, revelers parade on the main streets wearing masks of these heroes and villains. Festival activities include tours, trade fairs, exhibits and beauty pageants.
The Ibalong Festival will be celebrated on October 25-31 in Legazpi City, Albay --- the Bicol region's center of commerce, industry and tourism. The festival takes its inspiration from the 18th century epic about life in the Bicol peninsula long before the Spanish colonizers came to our shores.
Adapted from "Ibalong", the book on Bikol folk epic by Dr. Merito Espinas, the epic tells of the exploits of three mythical Aryan heroes --- Baltog, Handyong and Bantong --- who came to a rich land called Ibalon, fought several ferocious monsters and wild beasts, safeguarded the mountain crops, brought joy to the villagers and transformed the rich land into what is now the bustling civilization of Bicol. More than the festival events, the Ibalong is a celebration of the resiliency and indomitable spirit of Bicolanos amid daily challenges.
The street theater's theme is a recreation of the epic's important chapters including the arrival of the three mythical heroes, their conquests and the Ibalong folkways. Performers, mostly youth from the schools in the entire region and only from Legazpi City, will be clad in their indigenous, colorful abaca-inspired costumes and grotesque masks while doing choreographed dances along Legazpi City's main thoroughfares with the world's most perfect-cone shaped volcano, Mt. Mayon, as dramatic backdrop.
There were about twenty contingents from different schools in the Bicol region, which participated in last year's street presentations. Sorsogon's Donsol National High School was the champion for Best in Exhibition as well as in Costume and Props. Camarines Norte State College won for Best in Street Dancing. Albay's Matacon National High School got the Best in Music and Sound award.
Other events during the week-long Ibalong Festival include band concerts, street parties, smart nights, fireworks, an ecotrek, drag race, ballet workshops, art shows and exhibits, golf tournaments, midnight madness and mall wide sale among others. There will be food fests and cooking demos of Bikolano cuisine like the pinangat, Bikol express and their own version of dinuguan as well as the making of the delectable pili desserts.
Legazpi City, Albay
October 25-31
A celebration depicting Bicol's early beginnings as portrayed in the "Ibalong" epic that tells of super heroes Handiong, Batlog and Oryol and villains and wild animals that roamed in the ancient times. In music and dances, revelers parade on the main streets wearing masks of these heroes and villains. Festival activities include tours, trade fairs, exhibits and beauty pageants.
The Ibalong Festival will be celebrated on October 25-31 in Legazpi City, Albay --- the Bicol region's center of commerce, industry and tourism. The festival takes its inspiration from the 18th century epic about life in the Bicol peninsula long before the Spanish colonizers came to our shores.
Adapted from "Ibalong", the book on Bikol folk epic by Dr. Merito Espinas, the epic tells of the exploits of three mythical Aryan heroes --- Baltog, Handyong and Bantong --- who came to a rich land called Ibalon, fought several ferocious monsters and wild beasts, safeguarded the mountain crops, brought joy to the villagers and transformed the rich land into what is now the bustling civilization of Bicol. More than the festival events, the Ibalong is a celebration of the resiliency and indomitable spirit of Bicolanos amid daily challenges.
The street theater's theme is a recreation of the epic's important chapters including the arrival of the three mythical heroes, their conquests and the Ibalong folkways. Performers, mostly youth from the schools in the entire region and only from Legazpi City, will be clad in their indigenous, colorful abaca-inspired costumes and grotesque masks while doing choreographed dances along Legazpi City's main thoroughfares with the world's most perfect-cone shaped volcano, Mt. Mayon, as dramatic backdrop.
There were about twenty contingents from different schools in the Bicol region, which participated in last year's street presentations. Sorsogon's Donsol National High School was the champion for Best in Exhibition as well as in Costume and Props. Camarines Norte State College won for Best in Street Dancing. Albay's Matacon National High School got the Best in Music and Sound award.
Other events during the week-long Ibalong Festival include band concerts, street parties, smart nights, fireworks, an ecotrek, drag race, ballet workshops, art shows and exhibits, golf tournaments, midnight madness and mall wide sale among others. There will be food fests and cooking demos of Bikolano cuisine like the pinangat, Bikol express and their own version of dinuguan as well as the making of the delectable pili desserts.
