The winning contingent: Lapay Bantigue of Masbate City.

IRIGA CITY, Philippines  – The annual Tinagba Festival (Gayon Bicol Festival of Festival Showdown) held recently in Iriga City under the able leadership of Mayor Madelaine Alfelor-Gazmen proved to be another memorable event. Now on its 10th year, the festival has always been something that Bicolanos look forward to every year.

This time around, Mayor Gazmen invited Boy Abunda to be a judge in the “festival of festivals showdown moving choreography.” He joined Douglas Nierras, Gladys Reyes, Dindo Balares and Jojo Panaligan in the panel of judges.

Christopher Roxas, Ronnie Liang, Xian Lim, Dindo Balares, Isah Red and this writer were the judges in the Float Fantillusion Parade. Needless to say, the crowd cheered wildly the performances of Derek (even if he isn’t really a singer), Gladys, Ronnie, Xian, and Christopher.

Other celebrities who were there for earlier events were Drew Arellano, Ely Buendia and Juana Change.

The festival showdown, participated in by 11 contingents, was preceded by various events including a medical mission sponsored by the National Alliance to Nurture the Aged and the Youth (NANAY) Michigan Chapter. There was also an Extreme Bike Challenge, a Tourism Expo, Youth Congress on Leadership, Values Formation and Environmental Awareness with Rev. Msgr. Jonnie V. Aguirre, Juana Change, and Michael Angelo Lobrin as speakers.

Costumes used at the 10th Gayon Bicol Festival were on display at the lobby of the new public market under the Tech Team of Engr. Nona Vanessa Santiago and Cyril Borromeo.

The competing contingents were: Magayon Festival (Albay), Busig-On Festival (Labo, Camarines Norte), Sunflower Festival (Ligao City), Cimarrones Festival (Pili, Camarines Sur), Ibalong Festival,(Legazpi City), Unod Festival (Castilla, Sorsogon), Tig-Aw Festival (Tigaon, Camarines Sur), Voyadores Festival (Naga City), Sorsogon Festival (Sorsogon City), Pinyasan Festival (Daet, Camarines Norte), Lapay Batigue (Masbate City).

The 11th Contingent, the Lapay Bantigue Festival of Masbate with its spectacular, innovative performance won first place in the Moving Choreography (and Best in Music) with the grand prize of half a million pesos. The second place went to Unod Festival (Castilla, Sorsogon) with P300,000 cash prize and the third place, Magayon Festival (Albay) received P200,000. This contingent also won the Best Costume award.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, March 1, go to Gino Padilla, Ed Joaquin, Capt. Rudy Herrera, Jose R. Veloso, Kenneth Graham, Albino Jao, Fred Reyes, Grace S. Bautista, Deedee M. Siytangco, Jucille Baterna, Gigi Cabro, Peachie Naidas Abacan, Maryo Labad, Ricky de Leon, Cynthia Tan, Carla Monique Quiambao Pascual, Leopoldo Siapco, Marc Infante, Mina Cepeda Go, Teodoro Lopez, Sophia Montecarlo (Swirtly Mae Nibley) and Cassandra Ponti of Star Magic... Happy wedding anniversary to San Diego-based realtors Max and Edith Ricketts...