Overview
Sibug-Sibug Festival is an annual event held during the 26th day of February in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay. This celebration is also the anniversary of the foundation of the province.
The two-week festivity features colorful street dancing with ethnic themes, including the ritual that shows of good harvest, wedding ceremony, and healing rituals.
The local government in the province also wants to promote the province's major produce - the oyster or also known as “Talaba”. One of the highlights of the festivity is the Talaba Longest Grill. Aside from the it, one of the much-awaited events in the festival is the Sibug-Sibug street dancing competition.
A large number of participant and viewers are expected in the celebration of the festival. The longest oysters grill event is held in the town center of Ipil. The guests are also given a chance to watch the Western Subanen cultural presentations as part of the celebration of the local people presenting different kinds of rituals such as those for war, marriage, and birth.
The production of oyster is said to be one of the main sources of economic development in the province. Many people are depending on the oyster business. Meanwhile, the rubber trade is said to be the second source of income generation. Zamboanga Sibugay has been renowned for having the oldest rubber cultivated area in the Philippines.
Sibugay is a place where you can find the largest and meatiest oysters in the country. The province is the main supplier of the oysters inside and outside the country, especially in the Asia Pacific region. There are well-known oyster farms that are located in the municipalities of Kabasalan, Siay, and Alicia.
The townsfolk in the province believe that Subanen, a native group, lived first in Zamboanga even before the Spanish era. The province was declared a separate province by the proclamation of Republic Act in 2001. It is also asserted as the province that has the lowest crime-rate record according to the Philippine National Police (PNP) report for the period 2002-2003.
Objective
- To introduce and promote the pride of the Zamboanga, its oysters, not only to the locals but also to the international scene.
- To make the province known worldwide for its export-quality oysters.
Trivia
The province of Zamboanga Sibugay received a recognition for the World’s Longest Talaba Grill from the Guiness Book of World Records. The province also considered as the Talaba Capital of the Philippines.