Albay’s Daragang Magayon Festival opened recently with a bang with the hottest showbiz celebrities. The month-long festivity based on the legend of Mayon Volcano, Bicol region’s main tourist icon, is held annually in April.
Pinoy Big Brother All-In Edition Housemates Loisa Andalio and Joshua Garcia led the charge of TV personalities charming the young crowd at the opening rites at the Albay Astrodome in Legazpi City.
Stand-up comedian Wacky Kiray of Gandang Gabi Vice and teen heartthrob Ronnie Alonte of Hashtags, an all-made dance group in It’s Showtime, also joined the fray with their trademark humor and dance moves.
The longest celebration in the Bicol region, Daragang Magayon Festival features a wide array of cultural, musical, sporting and entertainments events to promote the province as an adventure, natural and cultural destination.
According to Albay Governor Joey Salceda, this year’s festival is special because of recent milestones—the declaration of the Cagsawa Ruins in Daraga as a National Cultural Treasure National Museum, and the proclamation of Albay as a Unesco Man and the Biosphere Reserve.
He added that the province is also hosting Palarong Pambansa 2016, the biggest national athletic meet with a very festive atmosphere.
Recording artist and cosplayer Myrtle Sarrosa, Big Winner of PBB Teen Edition 4, will take center stage in the Search for Ginoo ni Daragang Magayon pageant on April 8.
Moreover, Marco Masa of ABS-CBN’s Nathaniel teleserye will be a special guest in the Munting Princesa pageant, and award-winning actor John Arcilla will lead the Halea 2016 cultural event.
GMA stars will descend at the Peñaranda Park on April 16 in the Kapuso Night, while ABS-CBN bannered by Erich Gonzalez and Daniel Matsunaga will lead the Kapamilya Caravan on April 23.
Meanwhile, beauty queens and TV personalities, led by JC De Vera who will serenade the contestants, grace the Search for Daragang Magayon, one of Bicol’s top pageants, set on April 29. Celebrities are mainstays in the board of judges of the pageant where candidates from Albay to national beauty pageants come from.
Other entertainment events in the Festival include Color Pride Parade, firedance competition, dance sport tournament, retro music festival, Summer Dance Workshop with Jasmyxx, zumba party, LGBT tournament, battle of the bands, bikini summit, rap contests, and nightly shows at the Peñaranda Park.