About Manaragat Festival
Catbalogan City in Samar comes alive every August with the vibrant Manaragat Festival, a celebration that pays tribute to St. Bartholomew, the city’s patron saint. “Manaragat,” which means fisherfolk, highlights the city’s deep connection to the sea and its people’s livelihood. With colorful street dances, grand parades, and cultural showcases, the festival reflects the rich traditions and devotion of the Catbaloganons.
Catbalogan City celebrated its more than 400 years of establishment as the capital of the whole island of Samar, from a small fishing village in 1616 to a promising city in Eastern Visayas. Most of all, this festival is an ongoing call for people to remain resilient despite the odds and to keep moving forward.
I didn't have my DSLR with me, so the photos above were captured using a not-so-expensive action camera. This Manaragat Festival performance was part of the Aliwan Fiesta held at the Quirino Grandstand, Manila. Their stunning colors and routines placed them in 3rd Place for the Dance Parade Competition.
Summary
The Manaragat Festival is more than just a spectacle of colors and dances—it is a heartfelt tribute to faith, heritage, and the resilience of Catbalogan’s fishing communities. Visiting during this celebration allows you to witness the city’s culture at its most vibrant, where devotion and merrymaking beautifully intertwine.
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