It’s More Fun in the Philippines: Bicol celebrates Daragang Magayon Festival; Mt. Mayon Volcano makes it in the list of nominees for World Heritage Sites
by Leony R. Garcia
This year’s celebration of ‘Daragang Magayon Festival’ becomes more meaningful as the Mayon Volcano Natural Park (MVNP) in Albay province has been included in the list of nominees for World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
This was announced Saturday by Albay Gov. Joey Salceda based on the list released in the UNESCO website. He also announced it before ecstatic Bicolanos during the pageant presentation and coronation night of Daragang Magayon 2015 beauty pageant, April 28.
“Maganda ang Albay dahil nahirang at napasama sa UNESCO World Heritage List dahil sa napakagandang hugis na naging paksa ng mga alamat at sining,” the governor said.
He said they were proud that UNESCO had seriously considered MVNP as a heritage site, given the years of efforts by the local government to ensure that Mount Mayon’s biodiversity remained intact and protected even as it is being promoted as a tourism site.
WORLD HERITAGE SITE
A World Heritage Site will have access to the World Heritage Fund to be used for preservation and promotion, while emergency assistance may also be made available for urgent action to repair damage caused by man-made or natural disasters.
Mayon Volcano, known for its perfect cone, is one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines which covers a total area of 5,775.70 hectares, straddling six towns and three cities within the province, encompasses a large number of habitat types.
Declared by Presidential Proclamation No. 413 as a protected area in June 2000, it is home to threatened species, plants and other wildlife.
It is the nesting and feeding area for 37 endemic birds such as Luzon Bleeding-heart, vulnerable Philippine Eagle-Owl and critically-endangered Philippine Cockatoo, reads the Philippines’ description of the mountain range on the Unesco World Heritage Site’s tentative list.
At least 10 endemic frog species with four listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List including the nearly threatened Luzon Fanged Frog, Luzon Forest Ground Frog, Guenther’s Forest Frog and the vulnerable Banded Pygmy Tree Frog also live in the area.
It also houses one endemic butterfly, seven endemic stick-insects and nine endemic spiders in the registered insect and arachnid fauna.
MAGAYON FESTIVAL 2015
Magayon Festival is an annual festival in May that relives the legend of Mayon Volcano. The festival derived its name from magayon, from a Bicolano term which means “beautiful.” This celebration is held in honor of Nuestra Señora de la Porteria, Daraga’s patron saint. This legendary, historical and religious celebration aims to showcase the cultural life of the people of Daraga, Albay.
The celebration features cultural events, sports, and trade fairs. It is one way of enriching the culture of the people as well as giving venue to promote their products of Albay. The main focus of the celebration is the reenactment of the tragic love story of Daragang Magayon and Panganoron whose death gave birth to the Mayon Volcano, according to legends.
With 150 events planned for the whole month, the DMF2015 had a soft opening on April 5 and a grand opening on April 6. Celebrities and musical bands came in to witness one of the biggest festivals in the country today. Among those who sat as judges in the pageant were beauty queen Joyce Ann Burton, fashion designer Frederick Peralta, and actresses Isabelle Daza, Angel Aquino, Jacklyn Jose and Eula Valdez.
Activities staged for the entire month includes the Daragang Magayon Art Exhibit, Spicy Albay 7 Photograph Exhibit, Magayon Garden Show, Tayo Kabuhayan Showcase, Trade Fair, Fiesta Culinaria, and the fun-filled nightly drinks, foods, and shows at the Daragang Magayon Food Stalls and Rocklakan sa Daragang Magayon around the Penaranda Park.
Indeed, DMF2015 is the perfect showcase where tourists, both from local and international sources will discover Albay’s rich history and cultural heritage through these events, plus equally important are the Albayanos’ talents and skills.
Manila media representatives including the Philippine Showbiz Republic (PSR), had the chance to experience the Daragang Magayon Festival, meet with the hardworking governor, and explore the beauty of the province. Among the breathtaking popular sites sites the group visited were the century-old churches of Tiwi, Camalig, Sto. Domingo, and Tabaco; Cagsawa ruins, Quitinday Hill, sandbar island, Hoyop-Hoyopan cave, and Aguas Farm.
Each year the influx of tourists, both local, and significantly from the international sector, has shown a considerable increase in number because of the festival according to Dorothy Colle, the Provincial Tourism Officer and head of PTCAO.
“Maganda ang Albay dahil sa kabila ng kalamidad, umangat ang foreign tourists mula 8,7000 noong 2006 hanggang 339,000 noong 2013,” Salceda disclosed.
With the recent developments in Albay and its successes in the past years, the governor thanked the Albayanons: “I am thankful and I am privileged to be your governor!.”
