FESTIVAL | Balbagan Festival of The Municipality of Binalabagan

The Municiplity of Binalbagan possesed a rich historical, cultural and folkloric events regarding the origin of the place. In old times, Binalbagan is abundant in shrimp productions, in which it is exported to nearby towns. During that time shrimp often got spoiled when being traveled. The locals found remedy to preseved shrimp while in transit. Traders would beat  barks from a tree and place it over the basket of shrimp. It produces a liquid that acts and believed to be a preservative. This process is called "Balabag"  which some locals believed the place was derived.

Courtesy by: flickriver.com

Another folklore about Binalbagan origin was about the huge snake that blocked the mouth of Binalbagan river. Believers called it "binalabagan" or blocked, which evolved later on into Binalbagan.

These rich historical event is manifested through the festival called Balbagan Festival. It features the seven basic movements of a serpent imitates by the dancers during the ritual dance. Meanwhile, shakers produces sounds mimicking the hissing of snake that added another great way to innovate the balbag ritual. Additionally, bamboo sticks, bass drums, bamboo tultugan were being used to conceptualized the true balbag essence.

Dancers were clad in either fabric or body painted in red, orange , yellow, blue and green which represents the color of a snake. Added with colorful accessories and headdresses to give more innovation.  

The festival falls every 15th day of May. It is an annual town celebration. The highlight is celebrated with street dance along the Poblacion streets. Dancers stop over at certain stations to perform the Balbag ritual dance. The main arena dance competition is held in Mayor Pedro T. Yulo III Sports and Cultural Center. The main attraction during this event is the Golden Unity Serpent that represents Binalbagans' aspiration for peace, harmony and prosperity.

EVENT | 35th Pasalamat Festival of La Carlota City

La Carlota City is in the southwestern part of central Negros Island nestled in the foot of the sacred Mt. Kanla-on which is the highest peek in Central Visayas .  The rich culture of La Carlota is manifested through the celebration of Pasalamat Festival. A weeklong celebration of thanksgiving to the bountiful harvest which falls every nearest Sunday of May. 

It culminates with a Mardi Gras like parade of floats and caricatures. Dancers clad in their colorful indigenous costumes. Sashaying in the tune of samba which drumbeaters created out of carabao leather drums and percussion instruments from indigenous materials. 

The original "sambita" or the samba beat was first conceptualized by late Mayor Luis "Nonoy" Jalandoni Jr. In which the original Pasalamat Festival was a simple marry making and street dancing to mark the end of the milling and harvest season to give thank to God Almighty for the bountiful harvest. The first festival took place on May 1, 1980 after several calamities hit the province of Negros Occidental most especially in La Carlota. 

Pasalamat Festival and its drumbeaters is making its way to attract local and tourist. It has gone a long way and captured the heart of nearby provinces like Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan in Mindanao and in Manila. The drumbeaters also acclaimed by foreign during the world exposition held at Aichi, Japan in the year 2005.

Courtesy by: goodlifeinbacolod.com

To those who are planning to visit La Carlota, here is the schedule of activities :

April 22, 23 and 24, 2014

- All Day - 2014- 4 Cock Derby - La Carlota Coliseum

April 26, 2014 Saturday

- 8:00Am - ROLLO Y PINTA ( scroll painting competition) - Festival Park

April 27, Sunday

- 8:00Am - 4th Pasalamat Shootfest - CEO Grounds

April 28, 2014 Monday

- 8:00 Am - CUADRO Y PINTA (on-the-spot painting competition) - at the back of SP building.

                 - MUNECO VISTUARIO ( doll costume design competition) - Festival park
- 9:00 Am - Opening Pasalamat AGRO TRADE FAIR/Palarong Panlahi - LCC Gymnasium
                 - Talk 'n Text  Bingo Bonanza - Agora Public Market
- 5:00 Pm - Thanksgiving Mass - Festival Park
- 6:00 Pm - 35th Pasalamat Festival Opening Ceremony (fireworks display) - Festival Park
- 8:00 Pm - Party at the Park

April 29, 2014 Tuesday

- 6:00 Am - Live2 Dance Party Mardi Gras - Festival Park
- 8:00 Am - AGRO TRADE FAIR/Palarong Panlahi - LCC Gymnasium Grounds
- 8:30 Am - 2014 Inter-Cities and Mun. Chess Tournament - DHSBNHS Covered Court
- 9:00 Am - 12th Cong. Jeff P. Ferrer 9-Ball Billiard Tournament - D'Place Billiard Hall
- 3:00 Pm - PAWASAK 2014 - Festival Park
- 7:00 Pm - 3rd Pasalamat Pyromusical  Competition - LCC Gymnasium Grounds
- 8:00 Pm - 4th Paaslamat Battle of The Band - Festival Park

April 30, 2014 Wednesday

- 7:00 Am - Mangkas Challenge - starting Festival Grounds/Plaza
- 7:30 Am - Pasalamat Trisikad Race - starting Festival Park City
- 8:00 Am - 6th Pasalamat Job Fair - at the back of SP building
                 - AGRO TRADE FAIR/ Palarong Panlahi - LCC Gymnasium Grounds
- 8:30 Am - 2014 Inter-Cities and Mun. Chess Tournament - DHSBNHS Covered Court
- 9:00 Am - 12th Cong. Jeff P. Ferrer 9-Ball Billiard Tournament - D'Place Billiard Hall
- 3:00 Pm - Basket BAll Exhibition Game - Festival Park
- 7:00 Pm - SMB Night Street Party - front of Public Plaza
- 7:30 Pm - PRE-PAGEANT NIGHT - LCC Gymnasium

May 1, 2014 Thursday

- 5:00 Am - Pasalamat Marathon - starting Paslamat Grounds/Plaza
- 6:00 Am - AGRO TRADE FAIR/ Palarong Panlahi - LCC Gymnasium Grounds
                 - 4th Pasalamat Team Tennis Tournament - Tennis Court
- 8:30 Am - 3rd MAYOR FERRER Footbal Invitational Cup - DHSBNHS Oval
- 9:00 Am - 12th Cong. Jeff P. Ferrer 9-Ball Billiard Tournament - D'Place Billiard Hall
- 1:00 Pm - 6th MAYOR's CUP Karatedo - DHSBNHS Covered Court
- 2:00 Pm - Boxing Tournament - LCC Gymnasium
- 5:00 Pm - RHYTHM COMPETITION (fireworks display) - Festival Park

May 2, 2014 Friday

-8:00 Am - 3rd MAYOR FERRER FFootbal Invitational Cup - DHSBNHS Oval
                - AGRO TRADE FAIR/ Palarong Panlahi - LCC Gymnasium Grounds
                - 2nd SPORT SUMMER CAMP - DHSBNHS Covered Court
                - ARNIS - LCC Gymnasium
- 7:30 Pm - AWIT-SAYAW ONSE Grand Finals (fireworks display) Festival Park

May 3, 2014 Saturday

- 6:00 Am - DOG WALK - CMO Grounds
- 7:00 Am - Mountain Bike Competition - Festival Grounds/Park
                 - 1st ULTIMATE FRISBEE - DHSBNHS Oval
- 8:00 Am - AGRO TRADE FAIR/ Palarong Panlahi - LCC Gymnasium Grounds
                 - ARNIS - LCC Gymnasium
                 - 2nd SPORT SUMMER CAMP - DHSBNHS Covered Court
- 1:00 Pm - Pasalamat Dog Show Competition - LCC Gymnasium
- 7:00 Pm - Search for Pasalamat Festival Queen 2014 (fireworks display) Festival Park

May 4, 2014 Sunday

- 3:00 Pm - 2014 FESTIVAL DANCE and FLOAT PARADE - LCC Street
                - ARENA DANCE COMPETITION - Festival Park
                -PARTY AT THE PARK - Festival Park
- 12:00 Mn - FIREWORKS DISPLAY - Festival Park

Schedule of Activities is Courtesy of : Tambayan ni Jondel

How to get there: 

La Carlota is approximately an hour  drive from the city of Smiles, Bacolod if private vehicle. Its almost two hours by public utility jeepneys via the main highway. It is also accessible via the inferior barangays of Bago City.