Malagnang "mud" Festival of San Vicente, Palawan

I think festivals around the world have been popularly known to be one of the most enjoyable activities that every one may experience. We, the Filipinos, do have our huge festivals such as Sinulog in Cebu, Ati-atihan in Aklan, Panay Island, MassKara Festival in Bacolod, Panagbenga Festival in Baguio among others. 

But, not known to many, there's this Malagnang Festival in San Vicente, Palawan, which is not a big one, but very uniquely celebrated. 

But first, here's a small trivia why it's called Malagnang.

Malagnang is a Cuyunon word means "muddy, " which exactly described the place long time ago according to the people from Cuyo who migrated to the now called San Vicente, hence, named the place, Malagnang. 

Accordingly, to look back and honor the town's humble beginnings, Malagnang Festival was born 18 years ago to celebrate the town's Founding Anniversary which falls on June 21. 

Thus, some of the activities during the 3-day celebration (normally June 19-21, but held on June 26-28 this year) are held on the very muddy place, called Malagnang site. Interesting, isn't it? 

So, here are the Malagnang activities that will show you "mudness"😀 

1. Saraotan

A group dance competition with a minimum of 50 performers

Here's a link for you to watch. Saraotan

2. Palaro ng Lahi (local games) 

One of the most awaited activities in the festival! 

For more photos, just click this link. Palaro ng Lahi

3. Cara-Mud Race

Cara is short for carabao. Yes, it's a carabao race. Check this link 

Carabao race for a video of the race. 😉

4. Moto-craze

5. Mud Volleyball

If you're looking for new and unique experiences, witness and join the mudness next time! 👌😊 

Here are links for you to check the 3-day celebration of the Malagnang Festival:

Day 3

Day 2

Day 1

Until then, stay safe and healthy! 🙏 ❤️ 

Baragatan sa Palawan Festival 🎉

The word "baragatan" is a Cuyunon/Agutaynen word means meeting up. 

The festival is a celebration of people, culture and arts, honoring the province's Founding Anniversary, which falls on June 23. 

People from different municipalities meet and celebrate the festival with food, music, arts, games, and other cultural activities that bring pride and joy to all Palaweños. The province's annual huge event is of course celebrated in June for more than 2 weeks long. 

Some activities during the event are the following:

1. Street Dancing

Group of performers from different municipalities wear colorful and extraordinary costumes, predicting the local culture, and dance on the street, competing other municipalities.

2. Paantiguan (pagandahan ng performance) 

This contest is designed for the officials and regular employees from different Local Government Units in the province. They perform on the street during the parade and in the capitol ground's convention center. 

Paantiguan

3. Float parade 

The float parade is done together with the Opening parade, and this year, with Pantiguan as well. 

Surely, the floats  (made from indigenous and recyclable materials) are also one of the most awaited creations the crowd want to witness during the parade. 

4. Mutya ng Palawan 

Similar to other provinces, cities or municipalities, pageantry is one of the most exciting and popular programs during  the festival. Mutya

5. Sports tournaments

Apart from the very popular sports in the country, basketball, table tennis badminton, air soft, cycling among others are competed during the event. 

6. Travel and Tourism Fair 

This three-day fair is always included in the celebration of the festival since marketing Palawan's tourist destinations is of paramount importance. (I'll be sharing more of this next time.) 

7. Agri-trade Fair 

Of course, not only the tourist destinations should be marketed, but also the products of the different municipalities in the province. 

Booths' designs are really amazing, showing their creativity using local products and indigenous materials. 

8. Quiz Bee and other inter-scholastic competitions 

Battle of the brain is definitely present in the celebration, which I believe is a must.😉 

9. Job Fair

10. Other entertainments and contests 

With today's trend, Tiktok challenge, selfie and groufie contests and of course Vlogging will not be missed aside from concerts, band and song competitions. 

Book your flights now at Cebu Pacific or Philippine Airlines  for you to visit the province and experience Baragatan Festival as the celebration is still on going as of this publishing. 👌

Happy Baragatan Palaweños! 🎉

Singapore Botanic Gardens

Singapore Botanic Gardens is amazingly 163 years old, known as the first UNESCO Heritage Site in Singapore. Also, it is the first and only tropical botanic garden on the list of UNESCO's World Heritage with over 60,000 plants and orchids. 

The gardens is now 82 hectares! Imagine that? 

Dear plantitas and plantitos, this is your one true paradise.😉 But for your eyes only. 👀 

This Botanic Gardens has has four-core concepts: the Tanglin core, where  you pass the historic Tanglin Gate, the Tyersall-Gallop, where some of the tallest trees in Southeast Asia are featured, the Central- the tourist belt of the Gardens, and the Bukit Timah- the educational and discovery zone, where children's garden is found. 

I did enter at Bukit Timah gate. 

You can go through the around 6-hectare tropical rain forest which is older than the gardens itself.  

The National Orchid Garden, that serves as the main attraction within the Botanic Gardens, is a wow, with more than 1,000 species of orchids and 2,000 hybrids on display!!!

Such beautiful orchids 🤩🥰

BURKILL HALL or the VIP Orchid Gardens, where you can see the orchids that are named after the VIPs from around the world who have visited in this garden, such as our beloved Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. 

Dendrobium Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad 

Dendrobium Rania Al Abdullah

Dendrobium Joaquin Alberto

Papilionanda Usha

Aranda Françoise Desquiron

And there's a lot more..... 

GINGER GARDEN

One thing that surprised me was their small man-made waterfalls and cave in the Ginger Garden.😃  

The BOTANY CENTRE and TANGLIN GATE are also interesting, where walkways are covered by leaf imprints, and walls are covered by ferns. 

Note: The Gardens is opened from 5AM- 12 midnight daily without a fee, except for the National Orchid Garden. 

More of SG 🇸🇬

#8 Arab Street

The most colorful street or district I have ever seen! 

Very cool and lively street, too! 

Shops along the street have very colorful displays as well. 😀 

And what a beautiful mosque you can find there! 

           ☀ day time 

         Night time 🌃  

Our host treated us in one of the restaurants there. I was very surprised with our bill! Generally, the area is not "price-friendly" 😂 but the foods were really good and I believe all the restaurants there serve Jalal foods. 

Pampalubag loob sa presyo siguro. We got free tea. Hahahaha

#9 Shopping at China Town

    Red          red         red  ♥ 

#10 Food trip (not all foods in SG that I tasted and ate are posted here) 

        #breadsandpastries

I am a bread lover for life and I super love their breads.

            I LOVE YOO!!! 🤗

   

           Tulo laway 🤤

          #noodlesandsoup

       

             #maincourse

   The lumpia is sooo good! 

This menu is similar to the one in Thailand. 

This looks a bit disgusting, 😂 but yummy. 😋 

             #chocolate

           Sweet tooth❤️

              #icecream

One of the best ice-cream I've ever eaten!🤤

BONUS!!! 😄

This is one of the stores inside Lucky Plaza Mall that caters my kababayans who work in Singapore. 

If you're already on a tight budget this is your choice.😆

I am getting hungry already.😬 

Soon, I will share here my most favorite place in Singapore. I'm going to publish it separately. 

Until next time guys... Stay safe and healthy! 🙏 ❤️