Elmer Recuerdo
CATARMAN, Northern Samar – The province of Northern Samar celebrates its 58th founding anniversary this year with a two-weeks festival that will showcase its rich history, tourism and cultural heritage.
Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan led the launching of its first-ever Ibábao Festival on Sunday, June 4, 2023 which will continue until June 19, the actual founding anniversary of the province.
Ongchuan said the Ibabao Festival will henceforth be celebrated every year as the highlight of Northern Samar’s founding anniversary and to promote tourism, the culture and the arts of the province and also as a venue to attract investors to the different municipalities of the province.
“The holding of this festival is made more meaningful by the participation of all the 24 municipalities of the province, and the other sectors of the community such as the agriculture, fishery, youth, senior citizens, business, tourism and other industries, among others,” Ongchuan said.
Vice Governor Clarence Dato, in welcoming the participating contingents and all who attended the launching, said the festival showcases the different facets of the province beyond the issue of insurgency which is more played up in the media.
“It will be a happy celebration for the province as we look back with pride at our humble beginnings, enliven our rich cultural heritage, and showcase our fascinating tourism sites and our abundant natural resources,” Dato said.
The two-weeks celebration features indigenous agricultural and other home-grown products through the Agri-Tourism Trade Fair, a grand float parade participated by the local government units, and a search for Miss Northern Samar dubbed as Mutya san Ibábao.
Other events include the Northern Samar Business Conference, Cultural Night, Ben and Ben sa Ibabao Concert, Night Market, Mass Bloodletting, Founding Anniversary Commemorative Program and Kauswagan Awards, among many others.
“Through the Ibábao Festival, we hope to foster cultural awareness, engender deeper appreciation of the history, cultural heritage and development of Northern Samar, and instill pride, integrity, understanding and unity among the present and future generations of Norte Samarnons,” Ongchuan added.
Ibábao is the pre-Hispanic name of Samar island’s northeastern region with the town of Palapag as its capital. The province included the pueblos of Bobon, Catarman, Laoang and Catubig on the north and the pueblos of Tubig, Sulat and Borongan that face the Pacific Ocean south of Palapag.
Northern Samar became a province separate from Samar and Eastern Samar in June 19, 1965 by virtue of Republic Act 4221 signed by then President Diosdado Macapagal.
The province, with Catarman as its capital, is comprised of the municipalities of Allen, Bobon, Capul, Catarman, Catubig, Gamay, Laoang, Lapinig, Las Navas, Lavezares, Mondragon, Palapag, Pambujan, San Antonio, San Isidro, San Jose, and San Roque.
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