After three years of cancellation due to the Covid-19 pandemic and eruption of Mayon Volcano, the Legazpi City government is now in the thick of preparations for the 33rd Ibalong Festival celebration.

City Tourism officer Agapita Pacres, in an interview on Monday, said they already held a series of meetings with the chairmen of different committees to make sure that the festival events would be successful.

She said they invited different schools and pre-identified partner agencies to join the festival and hold events that would promote Legazpi City and the rest of Albay province and the Bicol region.

Pacres said the nine-day celebration will be held Aug. 9-17, adding that the opening parade would be participated in by schools, private groups, and government agencies.

It will start in front of the City Hall building and end at the Sawangan Park which is sandwiched between Mayon Volcano and the Albay Gulf.

“We are expecting over 20,000 people to attend in the Festival’s opening ceremony featuring the performances of invited bands at the Sawangan Park. There will also be a nightly beer plaza and other entertainments until the last day of the festival,” Pacres said.

She said the events would include the “Mutya ng Ibalong”, a street dance competition, sporting events, and a “bike challenge that would be participated by some local and international athletes.”.

Pacres added Ballet Philippines will perform the epic Ibalong dance as part of the festival events.

The Ibalong Festival is a non-religious event in Legazpi City that showcases the epic story of the Kingdom of Ibalong with three legendary heroes –Baltog, Handyong, Bantong– and other ancient heroes. (PNA)