The sleepy shores of the quaint village of Gumasa in Glan town comes to life once more for the Sarangani Bay Festival, the country’s biggest and hippest beach party, set on May 24 to 26.
Now on its 11th edition, this year is themed “Sarbay United” and will showcase the tourism gems of southern Philippines.
“The Department of Tourism and the Provincial Local Government Unit of Sarangani are committed to inculcate the importance of continuous awareness to protect and preserve the resources of Sarangani Bay,” says the Commitment of Support signed by Sarangani governor Steve Chiongbian Solon and former secretary Wanda Tulfo Teo.
Solon said that this year’s edition will celebrate the innovations the beach event has undergone through the years, most notably its advocacy for sustainable tourism and family-oriented recreation.
Raising the curtains for the festivity is a praise and worship concert on May 23 featuring True Life.
SarBay Fest officially kicks off on May 24 May with the 15-km Swim Across the Bay relay, Asia’s most extreme swimming event, and I Run Coz I Care, a (3K, 5K, 10K) fun run for the benefit victims of the Marawi siege last year.
In the evening, top rock band Callalily will open the nightly merrymaking with the San Miguel Beer Night.
Sporting events include the SarBay Strongman, a 50-km ultramarathon, beach volleyball and football, skim boarding, frisbee, jet ski race, bancathon, mountain bike, skim boarding, and frisbee tournaments.
Spicing up the fest are Zumba sessions with the Legendz, drum beating competition, firedancing exhibitions, body painting and family sand sculpture contests, and the Globe Telecom Party.
The search for SarBay Bodies 2018 and Talk N Text Tropa Trip Summer Music Festival #ShareYourJams on May 25 will continue to make the nights sizzle with deejays Sound of One, Hannah Ichiko and Clyde Harris.
Livening up the evenings of May 25 and 26 is Xanadu: Hidden Paradise, a premium party featuring top international disc jockeys—La Crème of Thailand, Kraiz of Italy, Zamir Ayeb of Netherlands, and Djane Djoly of Ukraine, backed by Manila-based DJs Jenil, Ron Poe, Jet Boado, Kat DJ, Jayvee Datahan, and locals DJ Torch, DJ Law, LV Lim, DJ Yancy and Kevin Rage.
Meanwhile, the daily Go South segment will showcase the rich cultural heritage of Mindanao’s different regions through music and dance.
The festivity draws to a close with the SarBay Eco-Party which covers environmental activities such as beach cleanups, and planting of mangrove trees.
SarBay Fest is organized by the Sarangani Provincial Tourism Council and supported by the Province of Sarangani, DOT Region 12, and the Municipality of Glan. It is a consistent recipient of the Best Tourism Event Award from the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines
The festival was cancelled last year in solidarity with the people of Lanao Del Sur after Martial Law was proclaimed in Mindanao due to the Marawi siege.
For updates, visit the Sarangani Bay Festival official fan page on Facebook.
