Ibalong feast brings Bicolano identity to life
LEGAZPI CITY—Bicol’s rich cultural heritage took the spotlight as dancers from different towns swayed to the rhythm of ritual beats, showcasing vibrant festival attire and traditional dance moves during the Ibalong Festival here on Friday.
Remus Villanueva, a theater actor and cultural affairs expert, said the street dance not only showcases the identity of Bicolanos but also highlights the power of live cultural expression in the digital age.
“We need to bring it to the streets because this was our ‘old-school social media.’ This is effective because on social media, things are just in front of us virtually, but in street dance, it’s more dimensional and you will feel the beat of the drums piercing deep into our soul as Filipinos,” said Villanueva, who was also a judge in the highlight event of the festival.
The competition was staged along the 3.4-kilometer parade route from Vel-Amor to the city’s Ibalong Park on Friday with nine contingents from different Albay towns.
The Ibalong Festival highlights the epic tale of three heroes—Baltog, Bantong, and Handyong—who battled monsters and villains that once ravaged the natural resources of Ibalon, the ancient name of the Bicol region.
Powerful impact
For Rej Kyle Laurenciana, 14, a high school student from this city, learning about the epic in the classroom was not enough to fully grasp the rich history and culture of the region.
“This made me realize the important roles of the ancestors and how their bravery, wisdom and resilience continue to shape the identity and values of the Bicolano people today,” Laurenciana said.
Arceli Pacites, 64, of Ligao City, said she had never seen such performances before and now she appreciated the story and the culture it portrays.
“I only realized now that there is an actual story behind their dances. I hope the younger generations will not forget how important this is,” Pacites said.
Ramil Chavenia, the composer and arranger of Ibalong official song, said the loud sounds from the drums and other musical instruments that played his original creation created a powerful impact to preserving the stories of the region.
“We need to sustain this music through events like this so it becomes ingrained in the minds of Bicolanos, that this is what Ibalong means. It has a distinct identity in a festival,” said Chavenia, a humanities professor at Bicol University.
Chavenia, with the lyricist Raul Bendian, introduced the official song in 2005 and it became the main music used in the street dance competitions.
Winners
The Tribu Pulang-Angui from Polangui town was hailed as champion for the second consecutive year, bringing home P500,000. The team also bagged the titles best in street dance and best in dance ritual interpretation, while placing third in music and sound and second in costume.
The Tribu Licau from Ligao City was first runner-up, with P300,000 and won best in costume, placed second in ritual dance and third in street dance.
The Tribu Bikolnon from Legazpi City finished as second runner-up and received P200,000.
“May this serve as an inspiration for us to continue celebrating our culture and identity,” Mayor Hisham Ismail said in a message on Friday.
Councilor Alan Rañola, chair of the city council’s committee on tourism, said they allocated P32 million for this year’s 34th Ibalong Festival that kicked off on Aug. 21 through an agriculture trade fair.
