ShareThisSORSOGON CITY – The province of Sorsogon has an added reason to be upbeat in its celebration this year of Kasanggayahan Festival.
Donsol, the once sleepy remote town by the western coastlines of the province which is home to whale sharks, a rare marine mammal considered the world’s biggest fish, has been listed by the Department of Tourism (DOT) as among the five top tourist destinations in the Philippines.
Both foreign and domestic tourists can now afford to skip Boracay but not Donsol for an exciting experience of interacting with the “gentle giants of the sea” as what whale sharks locally named “butanding” are now called, DOT regional director for Bicol Maria Ong-Ravanilla said during the kick off rites of the Kasanggayahan Festival here.
Latest report of the DOT said Manila remains the top tourist destination in the country in terms of the industry’s growth based on the number of arrivals in the first semester of this year.
Cebu placed second followed by Camarines Sur, Palawan and Donsol.
Since the “butanding” sanctuary at the mouth of Donsol River was officially discovered in 1998, tourists have started flocking to the area which was later declared as the Whale Shark Capital of the World.
That gave birth to the tourism industry of Donsol that consistently posted rapid growth to earn for the municipality a place in the world’s tourism road map.
Kasanggayahan Festival, the yearly in celebration of the foundation anniversary of Sorsogon province would run for two weeks this year.
Peace, tranquility, bountiful harvest and good life, rolled into one are what Kasanggayahan means.
“The celebrations are mainly thanksgiving to the God Almighty for all the blessings received and brought forth good life for Sorsogueños.
It is also a half month of prayers for more blessings in the next year,” Msgr. Francisco Monje, chairperson of the Kasanggayahan Foundation Inc. (KFI) that oversees the conduct of the festival.
Kasanggayahan Festival is also dubbed as “The Festival of Festivals” in the province being the celebration of the 14 municipalities and 1 city depicting its historical past and developing its rich socio-cultural and economic aspirations, Monje said.
In the socio-cultural aspect of the celebrations, Monje said the festival relives the past featuring the upright social and cultural upbringing of the people of Sorsogon so that it serves as inspiration in their continuing aspiration to live the kasanggayahan way.
In the economic aspect, the festival is highlighted with activities presented as attraction to tourists and investors.
“Since 1974 when it was first celebrated, Kasanggayahan had already been marked on the calendar of tourists, visitors and Sorsogueños abroad for their homecoming as it has already established a different kind of merry makings featuring both historico-cultural and religious events,” Monje said.
Among the most attended event in the festival is the commemoration of the first Catholic mass in Luzon conducted by Spanish priests at the Gibalong Chapel in Magallanes town which also marked the Christianization of the province.
The other popular event is the “Pantomina sa Tinampo”, a street dancing of the Bicolano folk dance pantomina being participated in by dancers of all ages in colorful native outfits representing the 14 municipalities and one city of the province, schools and other government and non-government organizations.
This event that draws thousands of euphoric spectators from all walks of life would take place on the culmination day on October 30, according to Monje.
In the morning of the opening day Monday, a thanksgiving mass was celebrated followed by the hoisting of the flag, opening program, blessing of the Kasanggayahan Trade Fair, agro-trade fair at the Capitol Kiosk and ground-breaking activity of Balay Kasanggayahan.
It was followed in the afternoon by a civic- historico-cultural and float parade, street dance presentation and fireworks display at night.
Kasanggayahan Festival 2010, under the theme “Continuing Commitment to Sorsogon’s Historical, Cultural and Religious Heritage” marks the 116th founding anniversary of the province.
The two-week celebration has lined up various activities that include 15 days agro-industrial fair, parade, wellness activities, nightly shows, fora, pilgrimage mass, heritage lectures, street dances and other exciting events.
“With the theme this year, we will see and feel the unrelenting support and partnership of the local government and the Kasanggayahan Foundation Inc. (KFI) to introduce the province of Sorsogon and its attributes especially in the field of tourism to the wider world,” Monje said.
Meanwhile, for a short glimpse of history, Sorsogon became a separate province of Albay on Oct 17, 1894 and 80 years after, the term “Kasanggayahan” coined by the then parish priest of Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Rev. Fr. Jose Ofracio, came into existence and was adopted by the province to be the official name for its festival.
The opening day was supposed to be on October 17 in time with the Foundation Day celebration but it was a Sunday that is why it was moved to October 18 to give imporatnce to the day which is a declared special local holiday in the entire province, Monje added.