Sibit-Sibit Summer Festival Offers Lots of Fun

SIBIT-SIBIT FESTIVAL

Photo from: https://www.zambalesresorts.com/events.html

Sibit-Sibit Summer Festival is held every 4th Week of April in Olongapo City (Brgy. Barreto). The name Sibit-Sibit was derived from the name of small paddle-driven bancas used for fishing during the early days when Brgy. Barreto was yet called Sitio Maquinaya. During fiestas, fisherfolk hold banca race using pure human strength to win the competition. Today, the festival competition includes motorized banca race and sail boat competition to add fun and excitement to the activity. In the summer of 1996, the idea came to mind when a barangay kagawad set sail to stage the 1st Sibit-Sibit Festival at Driftwood Beach. It was held yearly but later was shelved for various reasons. The event was revived by the city Government in 2006.

This 3-day event is an annual city affair that aims to reminisce the glorious saga of Olongapo as an ancient fishing village while at the same time promoting a friendly tourism alternative. The name Sibit Sibit is derived from an ancient term called “small paddle banca” used for fishing, as the city was born from being one of the ancient fishing villages of the country. Highlights of the event are: banca races, fluvial parade and sail show, beach volleyball, bangkang buhangin sculpting competition, bingo bonanza, summer dance craze, among others.

Photo from: https://www.slideshare.net/khiaJanej/province-of-zambales

As early as five o’clock in the morning, residents of Olongapo City, tourists and visitors from the neighboring areas flocked to Driftwood Beach in Barangay Barretto to witness the Sibit-Sibit Festival kick-off.

Students wearing colorful costumes presented dances and different Gawang Gapo products were displayed. GMA 7’s morning program Unang Hirit featured the event with its segment hosts “Eagle” Riggs and Charise Solomon who danced along while the Bonggo Band rendered the theme song “Sibit-Sibit”.

The kick-off also featured the celebration of Earth Day showcasing the clean-up drive of the city’s seashores and waterways led by the Environmental Sanitation and Management Office (ESMO). Read More: http://subicbaynews.blogspot.com/2009/04/sibit-sibit-festival-2009.html

Photo from: http://subicbaynews.blogspot.com/2009/04/sibit-sibit-festival-2009.html

The name Sibit-Sibit was derived from the name of small paddle-driven bancas used for fishing during the early days when Brgy. Barreto was yet called Sitio Maquinaya. During fiestas, fisherfolk hold banca race using pure human strength to win the competition. Today, the festival competition includes motorized banca race and sail boat competition to add fun and excitement to the activity. In the summer of 1996, the idea came to mind when then barangay Kagawad Carlito A. Baloy set sail to stage the 1st Sibit-Sibit Festival at Driftwood Beach. It was held yearly but later was shelved for various reasons. Read more: https://www.zambalesresorts.com/events.html