Palawan’s Baragatan Festival started off on May 22 with a colorful float parade and an interesting dance parade billed "Pantiguan sa Baragatan." The latter is a showdown of municipal officials as they depict their history, culture, and tradition in dance. Fourteen municipalities joined the festival dance competition, among them are San Vicente, Araceli, Dumaran, El Nido, Linapacan, Roxas, Coron, Magsaysay (all in Northern Palawan) and Quezon, Rizal, Sofronio Española, Bataraza, Narra and Brooke’s Point (all in Southern Palawan).
As envisioned, the Pantiguan sa Baragatan showed off the diversity of Palawan’s cultures as well as the natural skill and talent of local officials who enthusiastically joined the parade in the spirit of unity and convergence which is the message of the yearly Baragatan Festival.
Gov. Joel T. Reyes himself participated in Pantiguan as he led the elected, appointed and career officials and personnel of the Provincial Government in the presentation of the Cuyuno Ati-Ati.
Based on their history, the town of Araceli presented the Pananggetan Festival in tribute to the tree of life which is one of the main sources of livelihood for the village folks. Meanwhile, the municipality of Brooke’s Point won the second prize in the Best Float competition.
The Festival, which runs until June 2 also features the richness of Palawan’s natural resources, local delicacies, arts and crafts, and the spirit of entrepreneurship of Palaweños in the LGU Trade Fairs, TLDC Trade Fair, Private Trade Fair and Garden Show. It also focuses on the skills and talents of Palaweños as they compete in the Palawan Pop Idol, Chorale Singing Competition, Munting Tinig/Dance Craze Competition and Baragatan Battle of the Band, among others.
A new event is the Baragatan y ang mga Santo, a religious activity that will be a convergence of the patron saints of these municipalities. Much-awaited events are Mutya ng Palawan and the "Saraotan sa Dalan" or the street dancing competition with P1 million, P700,000 and P300,000 at stake for the first, second and third prize winners.
Baragatan comes from the Cuyuno word "bagat," which means to meet or to gather. Thus, Baragatan is a convergence of Palaweños in a cultural, agricultural festival and trade fair.
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