|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HONG
KONG
|
|
|
|
|
|
CANADA
|
|
|
|
EUROPE
|
|
|
|
USA
|
|
|
|
INDONESIA
|
|
|
|
|
SINGAPORE
|
|
|
|
|
|
THAILAND
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Philippines |
|
Bicol’s Tabak festival starts today |
|
Source: Manila Bulletin |
Author: None |
Date: 2004-03-19 |
|
|
The five-day celebration of the Tabak Festival in Tabaco City kicks off today with various activities for both local and foreign visitors.
A spectacular fireworks display, street parades, trade fair and exhibits, sports competition, drum and bugle corps exhibition, variety show, and the search for Mutya ng Tabak are among the event’s highlights.
The region’s local produce and the cutlery business, the city’s major economic booster, will be featured in the exhibit and trade fair. Tabak is known for its long tradition of "pag pa-panday" where local folks use the traditional way of making steel products such as the "tabak" (bolo).
"Festivals have played major roles in boosting tourism in the region, specifically in Albay. We have recorded 15 percent increase in arrivals merely due to our famous festivals such as the Tabak, Ibalong and Magayon," said Department of Tourism Regional Director for Bicol Nini Ravanilla. She is hopeful the trend will continue to increase.
Meanwhile, Councilor Raul Borejon, chairman of the event promotions and publicity, explained that the festival is a way of making the people proud of their long tradition of "pag ta-tabak". He added that Tabaco is one of the oldest, and probably the only city in the country, still using the traditional way of making cutlery products. Until now, individual families depend on the business as a major source of livelihood. The city produces high quality steel products for distribution in Manila and for export.
The festival will also feature traditional Filipino games such as palo sebo, bamboo stilts, arnis, dama and padjak race in a contest dubbed as "Karawat Bikolnon". A rowing competition will also be held with local fishermen as participants. Titled "Sibidan Race 2004," the 6-kilometer rowing competition to be participated in by 35 groups, will run from San Miguel Island to Tabaco City.
A crowd favorite is the search for "Mutya ng Tabak" where 20 beauties will vie for the coveted title.
As a finale, 13 contingents from various schools will vie for the grand prize in the streetdancing competition scheduled on March 24. Elementary and high school students will showcase their creativity as they depict history and the city legend through dance and music.
|
|
|
|