CALBAYOG CITY – This city of 169,000 inhabitants has easily doubled its population as it marks the 318th annual celebration of the feast day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, its patron saint, September 8.

People from all walks of life have descended on this seacoast city to pay homage to Mother Mary who is celebrating her birthday. They also come to witness the various cultural and musical extravaganzas that the local parish and city government have prepared for the thousands of their visiting guests.

Visitors come, as far as Catarman in the north of this three-province island, Catbalogan to the south, as well as the western islet towns of Maripipi, Sto.Nino, Kamandag, and Almagro.

Not counting “Balikbayans” from the United States and Europe. OFWs from Hong Kong and the Middle East.

“Also, aside from the fact that 85 percent of interior and highway barangays have convenient access to the city through well-paved roads,” says Joe Raz, a city hall official. Today the local population is a bustling 300,000, as estimated by a retired male public school teacher.

Visiting travelers are not disappointed. Awaiting them are various fun rides and amusement facilities for family entertainment. There are long stretches of mobile “baratilyo” outlets selling every conceivable wares and knick-knacks for the home, and RTWs for each family member.

“These ambulant peddlers boost the income of local coffers, via fees and taxes,” notes a local treasury employee.

Expectedly, the situation enlightens local businessmen. This is the time of year that the income of Calbayog overspills the treasure chests of the city government and the cash registers of local business establishments.

This city – chartered in 1949 – has an annual income of more than R500 million, the bulk coming from IRA allocation and, of course, local sources.

On the cultural front, visitors are awed by the concert-size Christ the King College-Jose Gomez Orchestra composed of 60 high school students of the Franciscan Friars-run institution.

Violins, violas, and other string instruments dominate the ensemble, harmonizing semi-classical pieces, Broadway hits, and “Kundiman” immortals. The orchestra played to an SRO audience at the Nijaga Park last September 3.

Also much-awaited was the Calbayog Clergy in Concert where parish priests and other “men of the cloth” from 30 or so parishes of the Diocese of Calbayog starred in a two-hour musical production.

They showed they could fine-tune their vocal chords and execute measured terpsichorean steps, threatening to render jobless even the most seasoned professional stage artists!

Msgr. Isabelo Abarquez, Bishop of Calbayog, took center stage when he dished out flawlessly the soulful Waray love song, “Mutya sa Kagab-ihon.” Many experienced local singers admit the song is difficult to interpret.

For the entertainment of the general public, two popular movie-TV actresses thrilled various audiences in two venues September 6 and 7, the latter held at the spanking, centrally air-conditioned Calbayog Sports Center auditorium.

While nostalgic out-of-town Calbayognons and “Balikbayans” woke up at the early dawning hours of the fiesta day, to a “Diana” that played lilting music as it went all around the city.

But the centerpiece of the celebration are the religious activities held at the imposing Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul.

Its interiors newly renovated, including the intricate age-old five “retablos,” especially the huge main altar, and the exterior designs particularly, the commanding dome. All these works were finished in time for the Centennial Celebration of the Diocese last April 10.