The country’s top rock bands and deejays will sizzle as they rock the famed Gumasa Beach for the Sarangani Bay (SarBay) Festival, the country’s biggest and hippest beach party, set on May 30 to June 1.
Opening the three-day event is the San Miguel Night featuring sought-after band Rocksteddy, and DJs Kouta Kutsuma and Cupcakes.
The fun continues on the second night with the Bay Bodies ’19 pageant, DJ Battle, and the Talk N Text party featuring 6Cyclemind, DJ Marc Marasigan, and DJ Kat.
The festivity draws to a close on June 1 with the Globe party series featuring Ben & Ben, and deejays Tom Taus and Carlo Atendido.
Now on its 12th edition, this year’s festivity is themed “Neon Summer” which will showcase the tourism gems of the Soccsksargen Region, where Sarangani has been the top tourist destination for 2018.
The event draws more than 100,000 guests and stresses environmental awareness among party-goers, with activities such as beach cleanups, mangrove tree-planting, and scuba cleanups.
According to Sarangani governor Steve Chiongbian Solon, 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.
“The Provincial Government of Sarangani, along with the Department of Tourism, is committed to inculcate the importance of continuous awareness to protect and preserve the resources of Sarangani Bay,” he said.
Located in Glan town, Gumasa Beach is regarded as Mindanao’s beach capital with its long stretch of powdery sand, crystalline water, scenic coves, and cozy boutique hotels and restaurants.
SarBay Fest officially kicks off with the 15-km Swim Across the Bay relay, Asia’s most extreme swimming event, followed by sporting events such as SarBay Strongman, 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.
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.
For updates, visit the Sarangani Bay Festival official fan page on Facebook.
