The Province of Sarangani is set to hold another record-breaking edition of the Sarangani Bay Festival, the country’s biggest beach party at Gumasa White Beach in Glan town, which lured some 150,000 merrymakers last year.
Dubbed the “Boracay of Mindanao,” Gumasa emerged 45th in the prestigious Australia-based Flight Network’s Asia’s Top 50 Beaches in 2018.
Set on May 30 to June 1, this year’s edition of the summer fest themed “Neon Summer” will sizzle once more with the rock scene’s top bands and deejays, a powerhouse lineup of musical artists, and an assortment of water sports and fitness activities.
Sarangani Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon said this year’s SarBay Fest will continue to celebrate the innovations the beach event has undergone over the past decade, most notably its advocacy for sustainable tourism and family-oriented recreation.
“As a sign of our commitment to environmental protection, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed Resolution No. 2019-9-028 encouraging all beach goers and hotel owners not to use single-use plastic and styrofoam materials on the celebration of this year’s Sarangani Bay Festival,” he said.
As in previous years, SarBay will emphasize environmental awareness among party-goers with the round-the-clock beach cleanups, ban on plastics, segments on educational activities, and the “scubasuero” underwater cleanup of volunteer scuba divers.
The three-day extravaganza kicks off with the San Miguel Night featuring Rocksteddy band, and DJs Kouta Kutsuma and Cupcakes.
The party goes on with the Bay Bodies ’19 pageant, DJ Battle, and the Talk N Text party featuring 6Cyclemind, DJ Marc Marasigan, and DJ Kat.
Curtains fall down with the Globe party series featuring Ben & Ben band, and deejays Tom Taus and Carlo Atendido on June 1.
Sporting events include the 15-km Swim Across the Bay relay, Asia’s most extreme swimming event, SarBay Strongman, beach volleyball and football, skim boarding, frisbee, jet ski race, bancathon, mountain bike, skim boarding, and frisbee tournaments.
Fringe events such as Zumba sessions with the Legendz, drum beating competition, firedancing exhibitions, body painting, and family sand sculpture contests will add sizzle to the beach fest.
Solon added SarBay Fest will put the spotlight on the tourism gems of Sarangani, the top destination of Soccsksargen Region in 2018, with 1,689,348 foreign and local visitors based on Department of Tourism Region 12 statistics. It is a consistent recipient of the Best Tourism Event Award from the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines.
Organized by the Sarangani Provincial Tourism Council, the event is supported by the Province of Sarangani, DOT Region 12, and the Municipality of Glan. Visit the Sarangani Bay Festival official Facebook fan page for details.