THE Department of Tourism (DOT), through Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo, recently expressed its support to Sarangani Bay Festival 2018, the country’s biggest beach party that features a host of water sports and fitness activities.
Now on its 11th edition, the event is set from May 24 to 26 at Gumasa Beach in Glan with the theme “Sarbay United,” which will showcase the tourism gems of southern Philippines.
“The Department of Tourism and the provincial local government unit of Sarangani are committed to inculcate the importance of continuous awareness to protect and preserve the resources of Sarangani Bay,” the commitment of support declared.
“We are committed to strengthen a nationwide private-public partnership among government institutions, academe and private sector toward a sustainable tourism program through promotional partnership, participative planning and coorganizing of the entire SarBay Festival,” the statement concludes.
Sarangani Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon said this year’s edition will celebrate the innovations the beach event has embraced through the years, most notably its advocacy for sustainable tourism. The festivity concludes with environmental activities, such as beach cleanups and planting of mangrove trees.
The three-day festivity kicks off with the 15-kilometer Swim Across the Bay relay, regarded as Asia’s most extreme swimming event. Other sporting events include beach volleyball and football, skim boarding, Frisbee, jet ski, mountain bike tournaments and a 50-km ultra marathon.
Spicing up the fest are Zumba sessions with the Legendz, drum beating competition, firedancing exhibitions, body painting and family sand sculpture contests, the Talk N Text foam party, San Miguel Beer Night, Globe Telecom Party, and the Xanadu: Hidden Paradise, among others.
SarBay Fest is organized by the Sarangani Provincial Tourism Council and supported by the province of Sarangani, DOT Region 12, and the municipality of Glan. It is a consistent recipient of the Best Tourism Event Award from the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines
The event was canceled last year after martial law was proclaimed in Mindanao due to the Marawi siege.