Image Credits: www.facebook.com/loboanihanfestivalqueen/
Celebrating Festival and Fiesta offer people in Lobo a chance to exhibit our rich culture and pay homage to the history and patron saint Michael the Archangel. This occasion offers vibrant, big and celebrated with a lot of pomp and show. No wonder, each barangay has its own Filipino Fiesta that they are proud of.
Local tourist often visits Lobo not just to see its beautiful beaches and natural wonders, but also to experience the municipality’s grand festival that, without a doubt, makes it more fun in Lobo.
Every last week of September, the bucolic and laid-back municipality of Lobo celebrates its annual Anihan Festival. The festival aims to showcase the bountiful harvest of this another agricultural town of Batangas. At the same time, this is Lobo local folks’ way of expressing gratitude and thanksgiving toward the Almighty God. This colorful festival began in 1999 as the signal for new era of accelerating agricultural sector of the town. The festival was derived from Filipino word “Anihan” which means “HARVEST” and intended for farm family celebration with complexity of recreational events to cope up with traditional Filipino style of fest.
As the BER month hits the calendar, locals start to trim the itinerary of excitement down by decorating Agri-Festive designs along streets and exporting exotic products for in demand market.
One of the highlights of Anihan festival is A STREET PARADE AND DANCE COMPETITION. More often than not, participants during the celebration clad in costumes inspired by their local produce such as sugar apple (Atis), tamarind, rice, Buli fabrics, seashells, corn kernels and dried tree bark, among others.
The Anihan Festival street dance competition was participated by students from 6 National High School all over the municipality. Like most Philippine festivals, the street dance competition highlights the event and allowed the locals to showcase their talents and creativity. It’s amazing how the pupils were trained to be so competitive at such early years of their lives. They were all worthy of applause and appreciation.
Many Batangueños were born from a family of farmers. This is perhaps where the Loboeños’ trait of being hard-working has rooted from. As most of the municipality cultivate crops, no wonder why Anihan Festival is one of the favorites yet colorful Festival in Batangas.
“EVENTS DURING ANIHAN FESTIVAL”
DANCE COMPETITION
Dancing has been part of Filipino tradition of resembling country’s festivity back to ancient age. In Lobo, annual Anihan wouldn’t be completed without the immersion of incredible Street dancing competition. It is indeed one the trademark of this local Festival and the most buzzling part of the celebration. Its fancy costumes and captivating dance move will surely make your cultural experience on top!
FLOAT PARADE
Upon the celebration of Anihan Festival a glance of colorful float parade was conducted showcasing a unique float design established by different barangay with nature’s inspiring-awe decoration imitating Lobo’s harvest season. In the float, a pair of candidates from pageant can be seen- a symbol of modern Filipino lifestyle and tranquility.
FLUVIAL PARADE
One of the important highlights of Anihan Festival is the Annual Fluvial Parade at Lobo Bay area to honor and culminates drastic contribution of local patron saint, “Saint Michael Archangel” for town’s vigorous history. This fluvial parade also takes place on May 8 to commemorate its discography where countless miracles were said to come off.
ANIHAN FESTIVAL QUEEN & PAGEANTS
Beauty pageant has deep root in Filipino culture. Even in local festival, celebration wouldn’t be anticipating without glamorous competition. Anihan Festival Queen isn’t about lady with pretty face, it’s the competition where contingent dance through rhythmic evocative move that showcase the theme of the festival while holding a patron’s figurine in orchestrated direction. Just like other festival, the participant who embodied a delightful movement will be hailed as Anihan Festival Queen.
AGRI-FAIR
To exhibit Lobo’s unique production of both crops, grain, vegetable and well-known fruit products. The local town organized Agri-fair competition participated by 26 barangays where they can exposit own developed products with innovative approach like jams, delicacies, plants, and some souvenir item.