Story by: JOSEPHINE MENDOZA
Photos courtesy of Northern Samar Provincial Office
Photos courtesy of Northern Samar Provincial Office
The first IBABAO FESTIVAL of Northern Samar Province was announced and DECLARED OPEN by Governor Edwin Ongchuan during a festive and formal presentation at the Provincial Capitol Grounds in the morning of June 04, 2023.
The festival is a two-week festivity in celebration of the 59th founding anniversary of the province. The celebration is anchored on the theme: “Proudly Ibabaonon: Promoting Tourism, Preserving History, Sustaining Progress.”
IBABAO FESTIVAL commenced with a float parade. Nineteen (19) out of the 24 municipalities in the province submitted entries to the contest for the Best Float. The floats showcased respective pride of each municipality in terms of natural endowment, historical and cultural heritage as well as the native and local products (including delicacies).
Winners in the Best Float contest were awarded recognition and cash prizes, as follow: Champion (Best Float), Municipality of San Jose winning Php300,000.00 cash; First Runner-Up, Municipality of Lavesarez was awarded Php200,000.00; and Second Runner-Up, Municipality of Catubig received Php100,000.00. Non-winners were given a consolation cash prize of Php20,000.00 each.
The festival is a two-week festivity in celebration of the 59th founding anniversary of the province. The celebration is anchored on the theme: “Proudly Ibabaonon: Promoting Tourism, Preserving History, Sustaining Progress.”
IBABAO FESTIVAL commenced with a float parade. Nineteen (19) out of the 24 municipalities in the province submitted entries to the contest for the Best Float. The floats showcased respective pride of each municipality in terms of natural endowment, historical and cultural heritage as well as the native and local products (including delicacies).
Winners in the Best Float contest were awarded recognition and cash prizes, as follow: Champion (Best Float), Municipality of San Jose winning Php300,000.00 cash; First Runner-Up, Municipality of Lavesarez was awarded Php200,000.00; and Second Runner-Up, Municipality of Catubig received Php100,000.00. Non-winners were given a consolation cash prize of Php20,000.00 each.
“IBABAO FESTIVAL will jump start the full-blown promotion of tourism in Northern Samar investing on what the province really have – natural endowments: waterfalls, pink beaches, rock formations; our cultural and historical heritage, such as the churches, old settlements and the galleon route, to name a few,” Governor Ongchuan said.
Works on conceptualizing Ibabao Festival has long started but which implementation has been impeded by the insurgency situation in Northern Samar as aggravated by the restrictions caused by the pandemic.
“Setbacks brought about by the insurgency situation in the province and the restrictions of COVID 19, have not stopped the provincial government in conceptualizing the backbone and the groundwork that entails in the preparations – roads, community organizations, utilities,” Vice Governor Clarence Dato said.
Provincial Tourism Officer added that even with the number of tourist arrivals reaching to a height of 300,000, the province has no recorded untoward incident that happened to a foreign tourist.
Works on conceptualizing Ibabao Festival has long started but which implementation has been impeded by the insurgency situation in Northern Samar as aggravated by the restrictions caused by the pandemic.
“Setbacks brought about by the insurgency situation in the province and the restrictions of COVID 19, have not stopped the provincial government in conceptualizing the backbone and the groundwork that entails in the preparations – roads, community organizations, utilities,” Vice Governor Clarence Dato said.
Provincial Tourism Officer added that even with the number of tourist arrivals reaching to a height of 300,000, the province has no recorded untoward incident that happened to a foreign tourist.
In an earlier press conference, the Philippine Army has assured their non-stop efforts for the quest to give Northern Samar the peace and order that the people deserves.
“The Philippine Army is continuously and will continue its massive efforts until the few remaining guerilla fronts are dismantled,” 803rdBrigade Commander, Col. Efren Morados informed.
“With the efforts and the recent accomplishments of the government thru the Philippine Army and the easing up of COVID 19 restrictions, it is now timely to fully promote the tourism potentials and destinations of Northern Samar, and we are doing it thru the IBABAO Festival,” the Governor concluded.(CJ/JMM)
“The Philippine Army is continuously and will continue its massive efforts until the few remaining guerilla fronts are dismantled,” 803rdBrigade Commander, Col. Efren Morados informed.
“With the efforts and the recent accomplishments of the government thru the Philippine Army and the easing up of COVID 19 restrictions, it is now timely to fully promote the tourism potentials and destinations of Northern Samar, and we are doing it thru the IBABAO Festival,” the Governor concluded.(CJ/JMM)
