IBON-EBON FESTIVAL of Candaba, Pampanga – The Birds and Eggs Festival

IBON-EBON FESTIVAL

The Festival

One of the biggest events in the Philippines, Candaba, Pampanga celebrates Ibon-Ebon Festival during February 1-2. Foreign and local guests are encouraged to take part in witnessing the grand celebration. Known government officials both local and national also joins the annual festivity. Held in honor of the local patron saint, San Nicolas de Tolentino, the local government and the people of Candaba aim to boost food production, and promote eco-tourism. The feast of San Nicolas de Tolentino has been believed to be in connection with the migration of tarat (bird specie known as the Brown Shrike) to Candaba. With a bird on a platter on his hand, the image of San Nicolas parades in the streets in a procession, along with the tradition of giving out San Nicolas cookies. Story has it that San Nicolas prefer vegetables over meat, once asked to have a fowl for a dinner, he made a sign of a cross and let the fowl flew away. More than three hundred miracles are attributed to him.

Also known as the Birds and Eggs Festival, as “Ibon” means birds while “ebon” means eggs, nevertheless, bird watchers and nature-lovers are expecting to see no more than things about birds and eggs, although Ibon-Ebon Festival is more than just Candaba’s showcase of different species of birds and thousands of eggs laid. Lined up in this two-day activity are presentation of high school talents, exhibits, and trade fair featuring products of Candaba. Booths are put up in the trade fair that feature agricultural products of varieties of freshly harvested vegetables from rich lands of the region, and fishery and other aquatic produce such as tilapia, hito, and dalagang bukid, among many others. Along with these activities are the parade of participants clad in different duck costumes competing for the best duck costume at the town plaza, street dancing, duck race, bird program and an art contest, a bird kite exhibition, and a variety show.

The logo of the festival pictures a wild Philippine dumara (variant of wildduck), which is common to the country and breeds in Candaba swamp, sitting on her egg on the green grass, symbolizing helathy relationship between nature and conservation of food production.

It is said that during the months of October to February, birds take a winter break and search for breeding grounds. Flocks of migratory birds can be seen at the Candaba swamp during the festival, which the Ibon-Ebon showcases along with the growing duck-egg industry of the town.

Candaba swamp is of freshwater ponds, swamps, and marshes, sorrounded with grassland flooded from time to time, grounds of rich soil, and wide area of muddy plain. It is adviseable for visitors to gear up on proper clothing and rubber boots, and telescope comes in handy.

To offer comfort to local and foreign tourists, the good Mayor of Candaba provides a 60-seat bus for transport service, with bird images on its sides and back.

The Scoop

The Migratory Birds of Candaba

In the 24-hour census conducted by Candaba, nearly 17,000 birds were sighted and a record not only for the pride of Candaba but to the whole Philppines as well. The elusive Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea Leucorodia) was seen for the first time in Candaba Swamp. The 32 hectares of Candaba Swamp has been a refuge for more than 80 species of migratory birds. Also seen in the swamp are the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax Carbo), photographed by a known bird photographer, and the White-shouldered Startling (Stumus Sinensis), which was only seen 6 times since 1911, photographed by the Candaba Swamp Wildlife Reserve.

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