Bangsi Festival Celebrates the Abundance of Flying Fish

BANGSI FESTIVAL

Photo from: http://saranganiphotonews.blogspot.com/2008/01/bangsi-festival-street-dancers.html

The Bangsi Festival celebrates the abundance of fish locally known as “Bangsi” (flying fish), a delicacy that is unique in Maitum in the Province of Sarangani.

Women’s organization as well as enterprising individuals had been producing “marinated bangsi”, flying fish which were half-dried on the sun and marinated with local spices.

The Bangsi Festival celebrates a year round abundant catch that made dried fish a thriving industry in the locality.

One of the highlights of the festival is the Sugba-sugba sa Bangsi sa Kadalanan. During this event streets will be filled with local folks lined while grilling a ton of Bangsi for everyone who wants to taste this sumptuous delicacy.

The festival also features a festive street dancing parade performed by representatives coming from different schools. Dance themes portray marine life and the dancers wear colorful costumes symbolizing life in the sea. Read More: https://adventuroj.com/2013/01/20/bangsi-festival-2013-schedule-of-activities/

Photo from: https://www.choosephilippines.com/do/festivals/3962/bangsi-festival-sarangani

“Bangsi” a local term for the flying fish. Maitum celebrates Bangsi Festival in honor of its “OneTown, One Product” every January which is beleived to be the most abundant month for Bangsi. One of the highlight during this celebration is the Sugba sa Kadalanan where tons of Bangsi are being grilled in the streets for the towns people to feast on. During this event Maitumians renew thier commitments to protect and conserve its seas. Read More: https://lakawniian.wordpress.com/2018/02/13/surreal-sarangani/

Photo from: https://www.mindanews.com/feature/2020/02/maitum-honors-bangsi-for-13-straight-years/

The coastal town of Maitum in Sarangani Province recently celebrated Bangsi Festival, a celebration that is named after the town’s “one town, one product” or OTOP – the flying fish or bangsi for the locals.

The week-long celebration which is held annually every last week of January gives tribute to the town’s fisher folks.

I was able to experienced Bangsi Festival this year and I must say that I really enjoyed it. I was one of the participants of the 13th conduct of Maitum Photo Safari, the longest-running and always well-attended photo competition in the region.

For four days, LGU-Maitum hosted not less than fifty (50) photographers from all over Mindanao. We were provided with free hotel accommodation and foods just to capture the beauty and experience life in Maitum and the colorful and exciting activities of Bangsi Festival. Big prizes were also given to the winners of the photo competition.

Also among the highly-anticipated activities of Bangsi Festival is the Bangsiyawan or the street dancing competition and showdown, and the Sugbarangayan wherein tons of flying fish are grilled simultaneously along the main streets of Maitum. Read More: https://www.soxph.com/2017/01/bangsi-festival-in-pictures.html