BOUNTIFUL CULTURE

For the past years, the Tinagba Festival in Iriga City left a vibrant memory that has been a part of our youth's journey. Looking back at how Irigueños were hyped at the annual event held in February, it brought the nostalgia of remarkable scenes which our eyes once behold.

Aside from the designs around the city in preparation for the event, many schools and barangays in Iriga City as well as from neighboring municipalities invested time for the Tinagba celebration. We had novena sessions for the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, mountain biking race, street parade, giant floats, contests, pageant, as well as an invited celebrity to join us in the night of celebration. Known for its attractiveness as a Philippine festival, it pushes through a deeper core. It constitutes the re-enactment of an ancient traditional ritual that involved making offerings of the land's best produce. The tradition came from the earliest Bicolanos who offered their harvest to the gods as a form of gratitude and prayer for a more abundant next harvest.

This year, with the pandemic entering the scene, a number of events across the nation have to be postponed for public safety. We won’t be able to physically see our farmers parade in carabao-drawn carts filled with the best of local produce, and there would be no breathtaking street dance performances to watch out for. Despite the canceled plans, the thought of the festival still remains. Some events will be conducted on a digital platform to have engagements among local netizens.

It's not just a festive memory, it's a tradition that we must value as Irigueños and a tribute to our local farmers. Tinagba showcased the life of the locals and gave us an opportunity to ponder and realize how blessed we are for having a bountiful life. The wonders of our city go beyond the views and landscapes. Tinagba is more than just a festival; it's the revival of our culture.