Colors and Faces of the 2017 Langub Festival

January 2017

Mabinay Annual Town Fiesta is part and bundle of Mabinayanon rich and colorful culture in town. Through good times and bad times, the fiesta must go on. Each proud 32 barrio together with "purok" has at least one local fiesta celebration of its own, usually on the feast of its patron saint or a thanksgiving celebration, so there is always a fiesta going on somewhere in our town. The same scenario all throughout the country.

        In Mabinay we have two major Festival, The Lingganay Festival during Christmas and the Langub Festival set every January.  But the major and most elaborate festival of all is the Langub Festival, a month long celebration season showcasing the vibrant colors of the street, happy faces of the people dancing to the rhythm beat of the drums and great food of course. Langub Festival is set to happen annually every January, 24-25 to be specific. 

Langub Festival from the word " Langub"  originated from our local term which means cave. Having name Cave Capital of the Philippines due to a numerous cave system in our town, boosting around 400 caves around the area waiting for explorer.

  Last 24th of January afternoon me myself and I joined the celebration.

Our very own energetic, dynamic and multi-awarded mayor. The Hon. Ernie "Jango" T. Uy one of the very person initiated the birth of Langub Festival at the Langub Festival stage.

Hon. Mariant Villegas 2nd District Board Member as one of the prominent judge of the said festival.

Each contingent has an arc showcasing artistically decorated in front of there dancing contingent .

One of the contingent wearing there colorful langub festival costume. Dancing the rhythm of the drum beats along the streets of Mabinay making the day celebration full of beats and colors.

With them was there happy active motherly coordinator Hon. Buscato, "mommy dear "as I call her in our Municipal Culture and Arts Council. 100% all out support to the contingent.

Each contingent presented a short dance showdown just in front of our Terminal Complex.

I spotted another beautiful town official Hon. Irene Baldoza the daughter of our town Vice-Mayor along the main street of Mabinay during the festival.

Another contingent with a unique festival costume design. A very eye catching design using a variegated details of materials.

 

There dance movements are guided by there story line. This picture depicting how locals near the cave search for food, usually they go for a hunt just to provide sumptuous meal for there family using the bow and arrow.

The street was alive by the dynamic of movements of the dancers.

I spotted another alluring lady a good friend of mine, Ms. Jackilou Libradilla a fellow teacher in Mabinay supporting there contingent.

Graceful festival dancers dancing the beats sharing happy faces to the crowd. 

Dancers expressively executed there movements and perfectly did the choreography routine.

Another personality spotted was Hon. Ma. Rosario F. Ocay, with her bewitching face. The ever gorgeous and charming President of the Association of Barangay Captains and Presently member of the provincial board as the Provincial President of Barangay Captains.

    Also I captured Hon. Rutillo Cabusog 

with him are the Barangay Captains of Brgy. Hagtu and Brgy. Dahile.

The festival uses native and indigenous materials for props to give at least a genuine appeal of what would be the locals like. They use a native basket for harvest season.

You will surely get tempted to dance together with the dancers movements plus with there facial expressions altogether dancing the rhythm of the drumbeats the Langub Festival way.

                                                                       Langub Festival dancers  

Another fine, good looking lady in black was our First Lady in town and our dynamic and youthful First Councilor,Hon. Joetery A. Uy , Chairman of the Municipal Culture and Arts Council.

Each contingent has there own unique presentation and interpretation. Some had an Indian inspired headdress.

While some utilized the Kimona and Saya attire with a twist plus colorful accessories that makes it more lively.

Another lens captured was a good friend of mine. Known photographer in town, fellow member of  Mabinay Clickers Photography Club in town.

 Good looking and stylish photographers Mr. Mil Paculanang and Mr. Arnold Benitez. 

SO,? Planning your wedding or any events or occasion? see this guys for booking. Quality at a low cost just enough to your budget. 

Some captured moments during the street dancing of the Langub festival.

Another notable personality in the streets of Langub Festival was the active and working Fiesta Director Hon. Elan N. Cadayday which happens to be my Uncle, my mothers first cousin paternal side. 

  The next contingent really caught my attention. There using a very common banana leaves known as "Unas" and a particular seed known as "lombang" in a very creative and artistic way as part of there costume that made them for head turner from the crowd..

 I dare you to be naked in the streets but this contingent did it. Wearing just a G-string, head-turner and crowd setter this man made my day. The original cave man only in Langub Festival.

Spotted was the crown beautiful ladies in town. Just concluded Ms. Mabinay 2017 waving the crowd on there float.

The street dance ended, but hey! There still more. The most anticipated most awaited Langub Festival 2017 showdown competition. 

Photo was our Mayor with his opening message to the people of Mabinay and to all the guest and visitors.

Prelude to the showdown competition was a PALIHI. It is a dance ritual performed prior to the showdown. Offering of Flowers, live Chicken, Fruits and a good harvest in honor to the creator Almighty brought in front of the main stage.

Municipal and Barangay Officials with there offerings.

Of course waiting to received the offerings are the Provincial Governor Roel R. Degamo, next to him is Mayor Ernie Jango Uy, then Provincial Vice-Governor Dr. Mark Macias, Hon. Elan Cadayday the fiesta director, Board Member Mariant Villegas and the guy in blue Mr. Jay Loizel Gutual Pido our Municipal DILG Officer.

 After receiving all the offerings. The Governor and Vice Governor broke the "Sag-Ob" a bamboo with water inside to signal a good start of the Showdown.

Of course the program will not be complete without the talks of the Officials, Governor, Vice-Governor had there fiesta message to the town people.

While waiting for the showdown to start. I took a picture of some members of Mabinay Clickers Photography Club present at the venue.

That's me at the center. With me was Arnold, Mil and at the back was Eljian Mayor's son.

Eager to capture a moment in the showdown. Credits to Arnold for taking this photo.

Another picture of ours with a guest photographer from abroad present during the said event. Credits to Arnold.

Let the battle begin.

Contingent giving all there energy during the Showdown Competition.

Dancers jumping to the drumbeats of Langub Festival.

Shouting there chants for victory.

While me seriously looking for a good subject, right angle and perfect lighting to capture a perfect picture. Everyone was seriously capturing the showdown competition.

I almost forgot to capture the host. It was Mr. Teofanes Asenas and Mrs. Glenda Cadelina town fiesta host. Thank you Mam and Sir you did well.

The Langub Festival Street Dance, Showdown and Town Fiesta ended with a blast.

Hey! Were not yet done. There was a simultaneous full street party in three different venues prepared for all of us.

Wow! just WOW!

Live band party from Terminal Complex to Langub showdown arena. Photo credits Hansel Libradilla

2nd venue ,Party at the Langub Showdown Arena. Photo Credits to Mabinay Events Account(Ricky Pao and Arnold Benetiz)

The third venue was at the Municipal Auditorium for a wet and wild Foam Party. Photo Credits Hansel Libradilla.

It was a successful Town Fiesta this year.  Thanks for the old and new acquaintances, good food, great place, humble people and a worth while Langub Festival experienced. I have to go bound for Dumaguete. My wife and my son is now waiting for me.

Going here from Dumaguete ceres bus - Php.115 fare

Going here from Bacolod ceres bus - Php.155 fare

Different types of accommodation available in town ranging from the cheapest 150-2000 pesos.

Good food just a stone throw away from the main attractions.

Don't you worry I'll be doing a blog on the detailed directory on where to stay,where to eat, and must places to visit in Mabinay. Stay tune.