I am born and raised in Manila and I rarely attend provincial festivals. All I can remember was going to Quezon for their Gigantes Festival, excuse me for my goldfish memory, but I vaguely remember what we did there. So I jumped at the very moment there was an announcement of media coverage of Palawan’s famous Baragatan sa Palawan Festival 2022.
Earlier this year, the Provincial Information Office, led by Atty. Christian Jay Camco, formally announced that the Baragatan sa Palawan Festival will return this 2022. The Capitol hosted a three-week Baragatan to observe Palawan’s 120th Civil Government Anniversary, with a soft opening on June 10 and the main event on June 23-30, 2022 live and face to face but with the implementation of COVID-19 protocols.
But what is Baragatan? What is this festival all about? What is Saraotan sa Dalan? Baragatan is a word from their local dialect Cuyunon (a dialect in Palawan) which means means “to meet or to gather”. The festival aims to bring people together, to showcase what the province has to offer, from its delicious food, and its friendly and talented people to its unbelievably beautiful tourist spots. Saraotan sa Dalan or Streetdancing (I hope I got this right) is one of the major ways how the province of Palawan showcases all of these, thru a very festive and colorful Streetdance competition.
The Baragatan sa Palawan Festival 2022, with the theme “Baragatan sa Bagong Palawan Ngayon – moderno, progresibo at kilala sa buong mundo: Legasiya ng tapat, mahusay at epektibong paglilingkod sa mga Palaweňo ng administrasyon ni Gov. Jose Ch. Alvarez,” promised a vibrant celebration and that was what we saw there!
Festivities started June 10, we were there only by June 22 and witnessed the coronation night of their Mutya ng Palawan 2022 which was won by the beautiful representative from Busuanga, Ms. Paola Gigi Blasselle.
While the next day, June 23, we witnessed the famous and lively Saraotan sa Dalan, the street dancing competition which was participated by the different municipalities of Palawan. What makes it different for 2022 aside from it being live and face-to-face? The winning municipality took home a Php 1,000,000 prize!
Out of the 23 Municipalities of Palawan, 7 Municipalities which include Kalayaan, San Vicente, Rizal, Brooke’s Point, El Nido,Magsaysay, and Quezon sent their contingents not only in the hopes of bagging the 1 million pesos grand prize, but also to showcase their municipalities best of the best.
It was a very hot day and the Palawenos were all very happy that the weather has cooperated and is visible thru their anticipating smiles and cheers for the dance presentations. Though I felt sorry for the talented dancers from each municipality since they have to brave the sun and heat in donned in their colorful costumes and intricate props it seemed that everybody was enjoying and gave their all during their performance.
The municipality of Quezon won the streetdancing competition, while the 2nd place went to Magsaysay and 3rd place went to Brooke’s Point.
There were other activities until June 30 but the Saraotan sa Dalan was the culminating activity and I am thankful that I witnessed it. Though the municipality of Quezon won, I can say that all the Palawenos are the winner since the Saraotan sa Dalan was a big success because they were able to gather people again out on the streets to celebrate the talent, the beauty, the bounty, and most of all, the lovely people of Palawan, the Philippine’s Last Frontier.
The Baragatan sa Palawan is a must-see and must-experience festival in the Philippines, so “Amos Taren sa Palawan”! Are you ready for Baragatan sa Palawan Festival 2023?!
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