Ibalong Festival of Albay, Legaspi – To immitate the appearances of the heores and the villains

IBALONG FESTIVAL

The Festival

Relive the epic story of the ancient heroes is the theme of the Ibalong Festival, a feast that is celebrated every second week of October, and last for days, in Legaspi, Albay. People involved in this clamorous merriment parade in the streets wearing masks and costumes to immitate the appearances of the heores and the villains, portraying the classic battle that made its way to the history of Bicol.
In this event, the spectators also play a good part of the celebration. People who dress in outstanding costumes win prizes, while everyone else is invited to dance behind the floats in the bandís music. Not only costumes of the famous heroes are seen. Some are costumed depending on the chosen theme of the year for each tribe or group, like wearing costumes of ancient warriors complete with weapons such as spearheads, while other wear large body costumes of paper mache.
In this 3-kilometer parade from Legaspi, stalls populate the entire route selling almost everything under the sun.
Acitivities such as trade fairs, art exhibits, tours, and beauty pageants, and sports competitions are also held.

Origin

In the early times, ancient heroes of extraordinary strenght and abilities namely Handiong, Bartlog, and Oryol marked their names in Bicolís history as their heroic stories of them fighting foes and wild animals are repeatedly being told in an epic portrayal that is held as the main feature of the Ibalong Festival.

History

Started in the year of 1992, the festival brought new face to the nature and culture of Legaspi, as the cityís thriving population grew. Here, approximately one thousand participants performed dancing and singing in a procession to the tune of a band of bamboo instruments.
In the next year, the festival was supported by an organization and prizes were offered to the best performers.
Twelve floats and even more crowd of about eight thousand joined the celebration in the festivalís 4th year. Held on the second weekend of October, about three kilometers of procession takes place which consist of ten or more bands, and about six thousand participants gather along.
The Festival Committee offered amount that reached P200,000, as prize for the competition of the most outstanding performers.
The processionís stages were the colorful floats of decorated trucks with bands that plays loud music.
Either a drum and bugle corps, a raggae band, or a rock band aboarded each truck.
Perfomers, dressed in colorful costumes, danced their way to the intoxicating beat of the music.

In Succession

Continuing the joyful event up to the present, the Ibalong Festival aims to express warmth and goodwill to all people, and visitors and tourists are always encourage to celebrate with the Bicolanos.

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