Iriga City celebrates Tinagba Festival 2010

MANILA, Philippines - Iriga City in Bicol will come alive as the city celebrates its annual Tinagba Festival from Feb. 5 to 11. Tinagba Festival is an ancient Bicol first harvest offering that features a caravan of gaily-decorated bull carts/motorized floats. It also features revelers in mardi gras and native costumes who dance and parade around the city.

Iriga Mayor Madelaine Alfelor-Gazmen and the Irigueños are busy preparing for the grand celebration. The highlight of the week-long festival is a spectacular street parade competition on Feb. 11 which coincides with the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Highlights of the event include the character float parade, the 2010 Tinagba Gayon Bicol Festival of Festivals Showdown (moving choreography) where nine contingents will participate, the 2010 Tinagba Gayon Bicol Festival of Festivals Showdown (exhibition proper), musicians exhibition of competing contingents, fantillusion parade, awarding ceremonies, fireworks display and the ceremonial turn-over of Gayon Bicol Pinnacle. 

The nine contingents — which are Bicol’s famed festivals — that will compete for the 2010 Tinagba Gayon Bicol Parade of Festivals include Palong Festival (Camarines Norte), Lapay Bantigue Festival (Masbate), Pinili Festival (Pili, Camarines Sur), Paraw Festival (Province of Sorsogon), Catandungan Festival (Catanduanes), Tabak Festival (Tabaco City), Sosogon Festival (Sorsogon City), Ibalong Festival (Legazpi City) and Pulang-Angui Festival (Province of Albay).

Iriga City is a fast growing urban center in the Bicol Peninsula which offers breathtaking natural wonders, a safe community, and the warm company of kind, creative people. It is known as the City of Crystal Clear Springs with more than 30 natural springs spread everywhere in this booming city. It is also famous for, the majestic Mt. Iriga that offers a captivating view of the entire Bicol River basin area.