It’s time to SarBay!

By BEVERLY C. PAOYON GUMASA, Sarangani (April 26, 2012) – Sarangani Bay Festival is expected to draw at least 40,000 tourists to the white sand beaches of Gumasa on May 18 and 19 prompting festival organizers to prepare a bigger venue for the events, stores, “tent city” and parking space. SarBay Fest, the biggest beach festival in Mindanao, kicks off with the 15-kilometer Swim-Across-the-Bay on May 18, peaking with its best moments the next day with a massive party at the beach from sunset until sunrise. SarBay Fest this year is the 7th celebration since 2006. Since then tourists arrivals have reportedly multiplied each year in which SarBay Fest earned the prestige as the biggest beach festival in Mindanao today. “The Sarangani Bay Festival started small and has turned out to be the biggest beach festival in the whole country,” said Governor Migs Dominguez. “We’re preparing a bigger venue. It is a two hectare venue and we are expecting visitors from all over Mindanao and Manila and foreigners to come in,” the governor said. Hobie cats, small sailing catamarans, will be in the area with other water sports activities. “So mark your calendars May 18 and 19. See you in Gumasa, it’s gonna be one big beach party,” the governor said. Dominguez pointed out the highlight always is the party in the beach until sunrise. A new SarBay Fest activity is the paragliding in Maasim. Tourists can also dive at Lemlunay Resort and try the zipline and shooting range at IML Ecopark both in Maasim. Other adventure sites are the river tubing in Maitum and the coral garden at Tuka Marine Park in Kiamba which is the newest resort frequented by Rep. Manny Pacquiao. Larry Asparin, acting coordinator of the Sarangani Tourism and Investment Promotion Center, said the tourism sector is “introducing new activities on top of what we are doing before” to ensure the festive mood of SarBay. The usual fire dance demonstration would be upgraded into an open competition this year. The Swim-Across-the-Bay, the longest open ocean swimming competition in the Philippines and probably in Asia, would still be one of the highlights of the festival. Ten teams will compete for the 15-kilometer swim race from Tinoto Beach in barangay Kamanga, Maasim to Reycon Beach in barangay Tango, Glan. The race usually takes more than three hours to finish. Here is the Sarangani Bay Festival schedule of events: On May 18 (Time – Event – Venue): 5am - Swim Across the Bay - from Tinoto, Maasim to Tango, Glan (contact person Nemrad Butil - 09306534953); 5am - Sarangani Run – Gumasa (Gay Ulanday – 09394469035); 7am – Beach Dance Marathon - Main Venue (between Rosal Beach and White Haven Beach) (contact STIPC 083-5085230 and 083-5085244); 8am - Sarangani Swim Challenge - Main Venue (Ian Rodriguez – 09204394712); 8am - Sand Sculpture - Rosal Beach Resort (Quinn Villaruel – 09209695540); 8am - Coastal Clean up/Scubasurero/ Artificial Reef Deployment; 8am - Bay Fair/Health and Wellness - Main Venue (STIPC/Alfan Fabio – 09182198285);9am - Sayaw Sarangan: Hataw sa Tag-araw - Main Venue (Quinn Villaruel – 09209695540); 8am to 5pm - Beach Volleyball - Rosal Beach Resort (William Rebucan – 09166260979); 8am to 5pm - Beach Football - Coco Beach Resort ((c/o STIPC); 8am to 5pm - Skim Boarding Clinic - White Haven Beach Resort (c/o STIPC); 8am to 5pm - Poi and Zip Clinic - Main Venue (c/o) STIPC); 1pm to 6pm - Pinta sa Baybayon - Main Venue (Jimboy Pestano – 09262663597); 7pm - Fire Dancing Exhibition - Main Venue ((c/o STIPC); 7pm - Bay Bodies - Main Venue (Lorenzo Bayoneto – 09082958752); 9pm - Summer Party at the Bay (with Beat Lab DJ’s) - Main Venue (c/o STIPC). On May 19, 8am – Beach Dance Marathon - Main Venue (c/o STIPC); 8am – Bancarera - Main Venue (Bombo Radyo/Yvonne Carangue – 09215564854/083-5527080); 8am - Coastal Clean up - Main Venue; 8am - Bay Fair/Health and Wellness - Main Venue; 8am to 5pm - Beach Volleyball – Rosal Beach Resort; 8am to 5pm - Beach Football - Coco Beach Resort; 8am to 5pm - Skim Boarding Clinic – Main Venue; 8am to 5pm - Poi and Zip Clinic - Main Venue; 4pm to 7pm – Zumba Party – Main Venue (c/o STIPC); 7pm – All Night Beach Party – Main Venue (c/o STIPC). For inquiries, contact: Sarangani Tourism and Investment Promotion Center – (083)5085230/5085244 or email stipc@yahoo.com.ph. For more news and updates, please visit the Province of Sarangani . Come and enjoy Sarangani Bay Festival on May 18-19, 2012. (Beverly C. Paoyon/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)