Bangkero Festival

Bangkero Festival

Written by haraya

Thursday, 02 April 2009 19:30

The Festival

The Tagalog term bangkero pertains to the people whose job is to provide transportation over sea or river through a bangka (boat). Welcoming summer, every first week of March, Pagsanjan, Laguna celebrates is Pagsanjan Bangkero Festival and fast becoming popular through its lined-up exciting events on both land and water such as the Palarong Bangkero, street dancing contest for students from different schools dressed in colorful costumes swaying to the upbeat music, drum and lyre band competition, choralefest cultural night, trade fair, sports events, and many more.

Outstanding as they are, they demonstrate skills and dexterity through maneuvering the boats upstream and against strong currents of water, the Bangkero Festival is inspired by and dedicated to all the excellent boatmen of Pagsanjan and held in honor of the town’s patroness, Our Lady of Guadalupe. These boatmen serve as tour guides who steer tourists’ boats along the rapid stream of the world-famous Pagsanjan Falls, paddling and lifting the boats through rough and sharp rocks, carrying people through the strong river current at breath taking speed in a two-hour boatride from the Bumbungan River or the Balanac River until reaching the scenic view of the breath-taking waterfall.

Known for its natural wonders and enchanting scenic views, Pagsanjan is named to be the Tourist Capital of Laguna, and one of the world class tourist destination in the Philippines. Main attraction of Pagsanjan is the majestic Pagsanjan Falls. The natural wonder, enough to lure tourists on its own, is accessible by an exhilarating boat ride through the Pagsanjan River, yet Pagsanjan people has a lot more to offer, the annual celebration of the Bangkero Festival, launched in May, 1999 and symbolized the bravery and skills of native boatmen. Local government aims to push the advocacy on environmental protection and promotion of the local tourism through the celebration of the boatmen event, Other events held during the festival are the contest for the Best Float, parading the decorated boats and floats through town’s thoroughfare, marathon, boat races or regatta, contest for the Best Decorated Gantungan, Cleanest Pampang, Most Attractive Bangka, fluvial parades, Cultural Night with the Festival of Folk Dances, the search for Lakan at Binibining Pagsanjan, Ginoong Bangkero, and the Inter-School Videoke Challenge.

Culmination of the celebration highlights the famous fluvial parade competition along the Pagsanjan River, the exciting dancing competition, native games, and the final round of the boat race. Concluding the five-day event is the San Miguel Night variety show and fireworks display in the evening.

Origin

Pagsanjan Falls is once called Magdapio Falls. Named after the town near Calvinti, where the strong current of the river ends. A trip to the waterfalls begin in Pagsanjan, eventually changing its name. Pagsanjan is a junction separating the water into Bumbungan and Balanac rivers, which ends in Laguna de Bay, thus the name Pagsanjan originated from the word pinagsangahan, or branching. From one river, the rapid current divides into two, facilitating travel and trade. And through this activity, the boatmen of Pagsanjan became excellent in their profession, not to mention boat building.

Though materials used in crafting a good quality boat became expensive, this didn’t stop the skilled boat builders from pursuing their passion, eventually leading to the start of the Bangkero Festival.