Menu Close

The 9th Ibong Dayo Festival- “Mga Ibong Kahanga-hanga ng Balanga”

by Tinggay Cinco

The 9th Ibong Dayo Festival was held in Balanga City, Bataan last Feb. 22, 2019 with the theme “Mga Ibong  Kahanga-hanga sa Lungsod ng Balanga.” Its translation from Pilipino meant  “The Amazing Birds of Balanga City”. Truly an amazing feat that the Ibong Dayo Festival  became the binding force for  Balanga  in uniting its citizens to conserve and appreciate nature within its boundaries. Balanga hosted the 5th Philippine Bird Festival in 2009, highlighting  the migratory birds that stays in the city during the winter months from November to March.  The Black-winged Stilt became the symbol of the Ibong Dayo Festival.  As a favoured feeding ground  for  thousands of  wintering migratory birds, Balanga became major bird watching destination in the country .   As an eco-tourism destination, the city was designated as one of the original 12 birding sites in the Department of Tourism’s book Birdwatching in the Phil.-Vol.1.  After the 5th Phil. Bird Festival in 2009, the city continued  these bird festivals  in partnership with the Wild Bird Club of the Phil. becoming a major eco-tourism event in promoting  birdwatching and nature conservation.

 In the succeeding years the Ibong Dayo Festival was nominated for the Pearl Awards  by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines-Department of Tourism (ATOP-DOT) for best eco-tourism practices in 2015.  The Ibong Dayo Festival  won the Pearl Awards for three consecutive years thereby elevating its status to the  Hall of Fame Awards.  The Balanga City Wetland and Nature Park , as the first wetland park constructed   in the Philippines evolved into a major eco-tourism attraction.    The wetland park was  instrumental in being an educational center for learning with regards to migratory birds together with  existing biodiversity in its environment.

The early morning atmosphere  during the 9th Ibong Dayo Festival  at the Balanga City  Square was electrifying!  Participants came in colourful  floral attire with bird themed head gears,  hand crafted  by the schoolchildren . Dancers  performed on stage accompanied by drum beaters.  Balanguenos converged in the city center to join the foot and tricycle parade to begin the festive event. People lined up the streets from the city proper down  to the Balanga City Wetland and Nature Park in Bgy. Tortugas .  Waving  crowds, colorfully decorated tricycle floats , and  street  dancing.  A real sight to behold .  Balanga City shifted to  fiesta mode!

As the saying goes, all roads led to the Balanga City Wetland and Nature Park for the day’s activity .  Bird themed portraits and  cake decorations were exhibited as competitions showcasing  local artistic talents  were done several days prior to the 22nd of  February.  A contest among schools were held as students and teachers creatively  decorated  homes  in Bgy. Tortugas using migratory birds for their motif.

 The covered court  became the program’s venue.  Mayor Francis Garcia welcomed  special guests and participants to the 9th Ibong Dayo Festival.  The festival was graced by Under Secretary Art Boncato  of  the Department of Tourism (DOT) as the guest of honor.   Usec . Art  has already  supported  bird festivals in the past when was then  the  DOT  Assistant Secretary for Mindanao during the  9th Philippine Bird Festival  in Zamboanga City in 2014.  Guest speakers included former Representative Gina Devenecia from Pangasinan and Dr. Annadel Cabanban for Wetlands International.

Welcome remarks were delivered by Mayor Francis Garcia.  Guest of Honor was Usec. Art Boncato of the Departmen of Tourism.  Other program speakers were former Rep. Gina Devenecia of Pangasinan,
Dr. Annadel Cabanban of Wetlands International and Ms. Teresa Robles of the Balanga Tourism Board.

Special song and dance number from the Bataan National High School.
A plaque of recognition presented to the Wild Bird of the Philippines from the City of Balanga.

The program was also highlighted by the introduction of the Junior Tour Guiders that gave a sample of their witty narratives during a simulated sight seeing tour of Balanga. The audience were entertained with a special song and dance number from the Bataan National High School. Simultaneous youth oriented outdoor activities were also on going through out the morning. Visiting students participated in kite flying, street dancing, origami and face painting . Lectures on conservation came after the program led by Wetlands International with Dr. Annadel Cabanban and WBCP’s ornithologist Arne Jensen, orienting both elementary and high school students in the general concept of wetlands and its importance to migratory birds.

Meanwhile members of the WBCP conducted a bird watching session for students. Mike Lu gave a brief talk on introductory birdwatching assisted by Jon Villasper and Cathy Mendoza for bird identification. Egrets, Collared Kingfishers and Whiskered Terns were some of the birds seen. The WBCP members also had a few minutes of birdwatching after the festivities. Taking advantage of the low tide, we were able to spot some Common Redshanks, Marsh Sandpipers, Little Terns, Black-headed Gulls and more than 200 Plover sp.  Birdwatching wish fulfilled!

Team WBCP headed back to Manila by mid-afternoon.  Congratulations to the tireless efforts by the local government of Balanga for continuing its campaign for nature awareness and conservation.   They have maintained their commitment through the passing of laws and ordinances, educating students and protecting the migratory the birds within their boundaries by preserving the favourable environment for  biodiversity to exist. The Ibong Dayo Festival has levelled up in providing a learning experience in appreciating nature and its conservation in the most festive and enjoyable way.

Mayor Francis and Ms. Raquel Garcia, DOT Usec. Art Boncato, DOT-Region 3 RD Carol Uy, City Administrator Rudy de Mesa, City Tourism Officer Nelia Castor, and Team WBCP

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *