Batangas festival postponed due to COVID-19

STO. TOMAS, Batangas, Philippines — The weeklong celebration of the Mahaguyog Festival in this city has been postponed.

Mayor Edna Sanchez said the decision to postpone the festival was in accordance with the recommendation of the festival organizing committee chaired by Councilors Renante Arcillas and Christopher Boy Ramos to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).

The weeklong festival, which started yesterday, showcases the agricultural products in the city. Mahaguyog is a contraction for mais, halaman, gulay and niyog.

Among the activities lined up for the festival are trade fairs, concerts, cultural shows, beauty contests and street dancing.

When the situation normalizes, the festival would likely be held during the celebration of the first anniversary of the cityhood of Sto. Tomas in September, according to Gerardo Laresma, city government spokesman.

Various festivals were  suspended while several towns were closed to tourists as a precautionary measure against COVID-19.