PADARAW FESTIVAL (BULAN)

The Padaraw Festival of Bulan which is celebrated every Fiesta time (May 30th) expresses a community's gladness and thanksgiving for God's bounties and gifts, properly expressed in ethnic music and creative street dancing.

Padaraw is derived from a purely Bicol term which is commonly used by local fishermen. The root word is "daraw". Daraw refers to the groups or schools of fishes which is collect in one part of the sea. This daraw becomes a convergence point for the fishermen to make their catch for the day. Padaraw therefore, refers to unity.

Padaraw also expresses not only the bounties of the sea but of the plains and mountains as well, for which the people of Bulan give thanks to God.

BUTANDING ARRIVA FESTIVAL

To welcome the return of the Butandings, which usually come in droves during this time of the year, and to officially signal the opening of another high adventure season of Butanding Interaction, the Butanding Arribada Festival is held every first week of March in Donsol town.

The peak Butanding Interaction season is March, April and May each year. This means, it is again open season for eager visitors or tourists to go Whale Shark/Butanding watching or, for the more intrepid and adventurous, who want to cavort with these biggest fishes in the world up close, swimming with the awesome, but gentle Butandings of Donsol.

A long fluvial procession just at the mouth of the long and winding Donsol River where a large pod of Butandings usually converge at this time of the year, highlights the Festival.

back