In the vibrant heart of Balud, Masbate, the streets come alive with the electrifying performances of local dance troupes during the Pangumagat Festival’s Dance Ritual Showdown and Street Dancing competitions. The mesmerizing rhythms and colorful costumes captivate spectators, transporting them into a world where tradition meets creativity.

THE WINNERS

Tribu Habagat, representing Barangay Baybay, Barangay Sampad, and Barangay Jangan, along with performers from Immaculate Concepcion Academy, claimed the coveted back-to-back championship in the Dance Ritual Showdown. Their impeccable choreography and heartfelt performances resonated deeply, earning them well-deserved recognition.

Meanwhile, the energetic Tribu Mamumugon, hailing from Barangay Poblacion, Barangay Mapili, and Barangay Mapitogo, dazzled the crowds and secured the Best in Street Dancing Award with their dynamic moves and spirited routines.

Tribu Hubasan of Quinayangan National High School, encompassing the clustered barangays of Quinayangan Tonga, Quinayanan Diotay, San Antonio, and San Andres, showcased their artistic prowess and earned the First Runner-Up title, along with the Best in Costume accolade.

Not to be outdone, Tribu Dagyawan from Salvador Arollado Sr. Memorial High School, representing the clustered barangays of Pulanduta, Bongcanaway, Danao, and Mabuhay, impressed the judges and claimed the Second Runner-Up spot with their captivating performances.

A BIT OF HISTORY

Anchoring on the narrative of farming and fishing folks that defined the main livelihood of Balud locals in Masbate province, the Pangumagat Festival 2024 has again draped the town’s landscape with colors and festivities. The 19th of April 2024 marked the day when nine contingents from clustered barangays strutted their prowess on choreographical and creative executions depicting their whimsical styles to earn the much-coveted champion title. Nonetheless, the main thoroughfares where the parade route trod garnered a tight-knit crowd of audience. Despite the sweltering summer afternoon, none has hampered the excitement of witnessing the performance of their respective contingents. Loud chants and screams of support filled every onset of performances. 

The stage performance is a different story. The grand spectacle has its terminus at the seafront stage where the setting sun blazed with warm tones of illumination that sparkled the contingents’ respective costumes. From the main town avenue, The endearing audience from the bleachers and stage glued their eyes on every vibrant performance. With a large space available, the formations are far more apparent. 

THE STREET DANCE CONTINGENTS

Beginning Tribu Padangan donned bright yellow-green motifs and wide-brim hats and flooded the streets with infectious energy and contagious smiles. 

Tribu Paganita has wowed the crowd with its interesting patterns of blue, and geometrical shapes with maroon and burgundy accents that have set them apart from the traditional nature colors. Their choreography somehow exuded above-satisfactory linear patterns with carabao heads as one of their surprising acts. The paddling dance steps by male counterparts depicted the fishing narrative while the baskets clearly tell the farming side of things.

Tribu Mamumugon chose the palette of beige, yellow, and green that glittery shone against the afternoon sun.  Wavy flordelisk-like backdrops made their performance unique plus their choreography clearly told the narrative of farming. 

I love how the colors of Tribu Habagat with white, blue, and orange stood out against the usual yellow and green motifs. Their contagious smiles and synchronized sway of hips gave a clean performance as seen from the front. 

Tribu Mandulaw began with a Sinulog-like festival queen bearing a handheld image of the Virgin Mary dancing in a sea of yellow and green. What I loved about their performance was their simple yet clear simultaneous depiction of handheld fish and rice seedling props. 

Tribu Dagyawan is donned in green as the main color palette with interesting fish poles with identifiable seaweed details. A low backbent festival queen identifiably also depicted the ways of Sinulog began with the Tribu Dagyawan. Uniquely recognizable are their pointy hat details that added to the quirky details of their performance.

In a yellow and green accented glittery orange palette, the Tribu Hubasan began with an interesting formation that mirrors each other creating wonderful patterns and lines as seen from the front. The farming story is depicted with their unique choreographic execution using “scythe” props with baskets and larger-than-life farm produce props. 

Tribu Madasigon began with their synergistic hand waves that certainly made an entrance. In cream white with blue and bright green accents mixed with traditional patterns has made their costume exudes an indigenous style. Their clean lines with obvious large baskets for collecting farm bounties and their series of entrances donning colorful aquatic details.

The 9th and final contingent of Tribu Bugana began their presentation with a clean triangular formation and whimsical facial expressions. They began with farming narratives depicted by handheld seedlings and baskets followed by paddles and buckets for the fishing livelihood.  

The Pangumagat Festival in Balud, Masbate, truly encapsulates the vibrant spirit and rich cultural heritage of the town. The Street Dance competition and Dance Ritual Showdown competition segments are undeniably the highlights of this grand celebration, showcasing the exceptional talent, creativity, and unity of the local communities. Through mesmerizing performances and intricate choreography, participants pay homage to the bounties of their livelihoods, fishing and farming – while celebrating the present. These competitions not only entertain but also educate spectators and their valued guests about the traditions and values that have been passed down through generations. As the festival segment came to a close, one cannot help but feel a profound sense of pride and admiration for the incredible display of culture and artistry witnessed during these competitions. The Pangumagat Festival serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving and cherishing our cultural roots, ensuring that they continue to thrive and inspire future generations.

Our heartfelt thanks to the LGU of Balud for inviting us to experience firsthand their most delighting and immersive municipal event. Thank you too to the Tourism Promotions Board for including me in their roster of media for this promotions leg.