A Thanksgiving Mass on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 kicked off colorful and meaningful activities of this week’s 6th Abaca Festival in the Abaca Capital of the Philippines.
Following the Mass at Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Governor Joseph Cua led the opening ceremonies at the capitol grounds as well as the ribbon cutting at Abaca Arte Isla at the lobby and Agri, Trade & Tourism Fair also at the capitol grounds.
It is the first in-person or face-to-face celebration of the festival since the pandemic restrictions began in March 2020.
Officials and employees of national and provincial offices joined the Parada Abaca at 4 PM from Plaza Rizal to the capitol where the #Choose Catanduanes AVP, Happy Island Tourism Circuit and Pasaporte Catanduanes were launched at 5:30 PM.
The “ABACAntahan” Battle of Bands at the capitol compound capped the busy first day of the festival.
Earlier, three pre-festival events were held: the Tanog Pagkamoot Concert for a Cause for the Renovation of Risen Christ Chapel at the Virac cathedral on May 20, the 1st Table Tennis Tournament at Virac Town Center on May 21-22, and the Trabaho, Negosyo at Kabuhayan (TNK) Job and Business Fair at the Catanduanes State University Auditorium.
Here’s the rest of the five-day festival’s schedule:
May 25: 8 AM – ABACA Hand Stripping Competition with Modified Abaca Stripping Knife (MASK) at the capitol grounds and Search for Noblest Catandunganon Researcher at CatSU Auditorium; and, 6 PM -Rawis sa ABACA spoken word poetry competition and Indak ABACA DanceSport Competition at the capitol compound.
May 26: 8 AM – Provincial Skills Competition at TESDA Cabugao, Sangguniang Panlalawigan and capitol grounds and Launching of Abacaleros Directory Website at the lobby; 6 PM – Welcome Dinner for Philippine Motorcycle Tourism Exciting Bicol Ride (Happy Island Catanduanes Leg) at Twin Rock Beach Resort and ABACAsayawan Dance Group Competition at the capitol compound.
May 27: 6 AM onwards – Philippine Motorcycle Tourism Exciting Bicol Ride, Happy Island 360 Moto X Music Festival and Festival Dance Competition; 8 AM – Arko Abaca installation at various municipalities; 9 AM – #Choose Catanduanes Vlogging Competition, Culminating Activity of Farmers’ and Fisherfolks’ Month, Awarding of Outstanding Abaca Farm Family and Awarding of MASK to Happy Island Abacaleros; and, 3 PM – Motorcade of Mr. and Ms, Virac Town Center.
May 28: 5 AM Happy Island Fun Run from capitol grounds to downtown and back; 6 AM – 1st Abaca Regional MTB Enduro Challenge (Stage 1 Sogod Tibgao-BLISS-Sto. Nino and Stage 2 Capilihan-Mislagan) and 12th Greencat Regional Ecotrek at Mt. Taganasan, Carangag, San Andres; 7 PM – Search for Mr. & Ms. Virac Town Center at VTC, Fellowship Night/Closing and Awarding Ceremonies/Rampa Abaca at capitol grounds.
May 29: 6 AM – Isla Bisikleta Happy Island Fun Bike (Virac and Bato).