Legazpi City Celebrates Return of Ibalong Festival After Four-Year Hiatus

LEGAZPI CITY — The Ibalong Festival, a vibrant celebration of Bicolano heritage, resumed in Legazpi City on Friday after being suspended for four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and disruptions caused by the eruption of Mayon Volcano.

According to Philippines News Agency, the festival began with a parade from city hall to Sawangan Park, attracting around 15,000 attendees, including military and medical teams from the United States, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom, who are currently in Albay for a humanitarian mission. Mayor Rosal emphasized that the festival honors the legendary heroes of the Kingdom of Ibalong — Baltog, Handyong, and Bantong — and celebrates the quintessential traits of the Bicolano people: patience, intelligence, helpfulness, dedication, and bravery.

The festival’s lineup this year includes a range of activities designed to boost tourism and community engagement in Legazpi City. Highlights include a ballet and contemporary dance workshop led by the Philippine Ballet Theater, street dance competitions, a golf tournament, the Mount Mayon Bike Challenge, a regional dart tournament, and a national billiards tournament.

Additionally, the festival will feature the Mutya ng Ibalong beauty pageant, with twenty contestants vying for the title, further showcasing the cultural richness and community spirit of the region.