The streets of Sorsogon comes alive with color and joy as the province celebrates its 50th Kasanggayahan Festival along with its 130th charter anniversary.
The Kasanggayahan Festival, which means "prosperity," is the largest celebration in Sorsogon and has gained recognition from the Department of Tourism (DOT) as one of the key festivals in the Philippines.
With almost a month-long celebration running from October 14 to 28, 2024, the festival highlights local products, including those from the famous pili tree, and other agricultural treasures that reflect the bounty of Sorsogon.
One of the festival's standout features is the 'Pantomina sa Tinampo', a native dance that represents love and courtship.
The performance is often referred to as the "dance of the doves," and takes place on the streets (or tinampo).
The festival also made headlines in 2019 when Sorsogon set a Guinness world record of the largest Filipino folk dance with 7,127 participants.
This year's 'Pantomina sa Tinampo' is set on Sunday, October 20.
FESTIVAL OF FESTIVALS
The Festival of Festivals competition attracted participants from across the country, all eager to showcase their distinct cultures.
Among the notable guests at the opening event was First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos.
"Sorsogon, you truly shine as the heart of kasanggayahan — where prosperity is all about unity, honoring traditions and working towards a brighter future," she said on Instagram.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. announced an additional P1 million for the top three prizes in the competition, increasing the stakes to P4 million for first place.
Regional Level Winners:
- Champion (P1 million): Gayon Ciudad Festival, Sorsogon City
- 1st Runner-Up (P700,000): Bulusan Festival, Bulusan, Sorsogon
- 2nd Runner-Up (P500,000): Cagsawa Festival, Daraga, Albay
National Level Winners:
- Champion (P4 million) : Sinulog Festival, Cebu City
- 1st Runner-Up (P3 million): Tanglawan Festival, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan
- 2nd Runner-Up (P2 million): Cagsawa Festival, Daraga, Albay
- 3rd Runner-Up (P800,000): Gayon Ciudad, Sorsogon City
- 4th Runner-Up (P500,000): Garbo sa Lapu-Lapu Festival, Lapu-Lapu City
Minor Awards:
- Best in Moving Choreography (P300,000): Sinulog Festival, Cebu City
- Best in Music (P200,000): Gayon Ciudad, Sorsogon City
- Best in Costume (P200,000): Sinulog Festival: Cebu City
- Best in Festival Queen (P100,000): San Jose del Monte, Bulacan
One of the highly anticipated events is the Miss Kasanggayahan Philippines, which is set on October 27, with 53 official candidates, from an initial pool of 236 aspirants.
