H I S T O R Y

Magayon Festival
Then & Now

By Jose M. Briones

     Never has there been a celebration as all-embracing, as broad and as big in the entire country as Magayon Festival. It was inspired by a vision to create a celebration of life and lights, rising from a legendary tales that flows generously in the heart of a visionary man who was commissioned by the electorate to govern the province in 1995. This man administered this ideal by paving the way to remodel the image of the iconic Pride of Bicol to grace in the glory and limelight the Albayanos to enter into a spacious mall of entertainment and pleasure.

     From this beginning, a whole month was decided on to embrace the full-filled events that in the years ahead have constantly stimulated, excited and stirred thousands of visitors and guests who came to join the rousing beats of the blood-boiling and curdled sounds, the spill of sweat and hurrahs, the crashing moment of victory, the vibrating gyration of the bodies and legs on the street and stage, the deafening yells and the wonderful flashes of laughter from the crowd, completed by the delicious flavors and tastes of local cuisines, embossed with the artistry of local products displayed in midget stalls and even the sprays of colors raining over the sky every night.

     Indeed, the open field of joy and excitement was generated in the month of May, infused with an electric ignition of fun and carnival-like shows within a gravy setting that was emblazoned with fireworks displays, heavily captive with daredevil lights and sounds, all because of a leadership commitment of this man who was elected as the 23rd Governor of Albay-Al Francis C. Bichara. He signed proclamation No. 6 on December 16, 1998. And Magayon Festival was born and turned into an institutional celebration every month of May.

     Bichara revitalized tourism as his flagship program, creating an office to handle it, putting more strings together to boost Albay’s tourism potential in the second year of his first term, equally venerating its rich culture and heritage.

     Suddenly, with Magayon Festival, the whole evenings were turned like days, carefully treated with wholesome music, variety of talent and a masquerade of food and drinks inside uniform stalls visibly spread out on the main thoroughfares, now officially closed from vehicular traffic, rescuing the throng from the shocking density of human traffic. Obligingly, the vicinity was clothed with meter-long streamers hanging in almost every corner of the main highway, absorbing curious eyes to watch with quickening alacrity.

     But why Magayon? The story of Daragang Magayon, a legendary tale so tragic and heroic was the seed that shaped what the festival was all about. Her name means “beautiful.” And this description tells all what Albay really is before and after. From her death as told in the legend rose the most beautiful and almost perfect volcano ever to have existed in the whole world-Magayon. Truly, she’s a beauty that victors look forward to see even for a day or two. Nothing can compare her majestic shape and amazing size, her magnificence and fame, her invulnerable beauty and fury.

     Compensating the birthright of this volcano’s qualities and attributes, Governor Bichara turned the wheel of his executive power to his month-long summertime event, solely to enhance tourism promotion and put on view the diverse man-made and natural landscapes of the province, matched up with special events, trade and commerce, culture and arts, among others.

     In an aggressive move, Gov. Bichara engineered in winning the active support of non-government agencies, the city and municipal local government units, the national agencies, civic and sports clubs, tourism councils and private individuals,. Not without a defense, the machinery of negotiations to make them adapt to the festival idea began to generate power.

     At the end of Gov. Bichara’s term in 2004, Magayon Festival laid low. The month-long celebration was cut down to two weeks by the next administration, prioritizing countryside development as the flagship program.

     Governor Fernando V. Gonzalez, the 24th Governor of Albay, stressed on austerity measures to uplift the economic conditions in the barangay level, providing financial aids on rebuilding the schools, construction of roads and bridges, improvement on water systems and irrigation of agricultural lands, among others.

     Highlighted in the following celebrations were the farmers and fisherfolks. Exhibits of agricultural products, garden show and orchidarium were displayed inside the Capitol grounds. Street dancing focused on ancient rituals on planting and harvesting was performed. But it was not laid to rest, erasing the doubts cast by some sectors of society.

     On November 30, 2006, Albay was severely hit by supertyphoon “Reming” (international name, Durian), scratching heavy damages, displacing many thousands of people to stay in evacuation centers. Four towns and a city were adversely destroyed by the strong typhoon.

     In 2007, the following year, not extracting the festival mood, a joint administrative order between the City Government of Legazpi under Mayor Noel E. Rosal and Provincial Government of Albay under Gov. Fernando V. Gonzales was signed, accentuating the two festivals –Ibalong and Magayon – to merge, naming it “Ibalong Na Magayon Pa, Festivals”. The integration of the two events embraced an austere upheaval, attributed to the stormy experiences that resulted on damages to crops and property, government and private infrastructure and loss of lives, not erasing in achieving success on the two tourism events.

     This year 2008, with the advent of Gov. Joey Sarte- Salceda after winning the May 2007 election and setting as the 25th Governor of Albay, the usual tempo of Magayon Festival was revived, considered an extra ordinary move on his part despite the devastation. Imbued with optimism to bring back the glory of Albay under his slogan – Albay Mabuhay, May Buhay, May Hanapbuhay – this man, sharing his high intelligence as an economist – wants to restore the hopes the joys to the Albayanos.

     A record-breaking shift is going to materialize not in May this time, but April. At least sixty (60) events are going to daily enliven the air over five major venues- Penarada Park, Albay Astrodome, Bicol University Grounds, Lignon Hill and on the two biggest malls in the capital city- Legazpi . a grand restoration under the theme – Albay Rising – is going to appear. The calm expectation will explode with greater colors, bigger events, new faces and rousing lights and sounds – a more dynamic event that stresses on climate change adaptation to fight the lingering global warming – are ready to break the Year of the Rat, following the Chinese lunar calendar.

     And the rest will be part of history as it writes the political career of Gov. Joey Sarte-Salceda, the green Economist, unfolding a festival with greater passion and bolder actions.