CITY OF NAGA, CEBU, PHILIPPINES

“Sa Dagitab, Haruhay ug may Kalamboan ang Kinabuhi”

“MABUHI ANG DAGITAB FESTIVAL!”

Naga (Cebu) is located 21 kilometers at the southeastern part of the Province of Cebu, now known as the “Industrial Hub in the South of Cebu”.

One of the priorities of the City under the leadership of Honorable Mayor Valdemar Mendiola Chiong is a series of programs of VAL 2020 (Vision And Leadership 20/20) that aim to nurture the economic growth, tourism, heritage and cultural activities of the City.

Inspired with the thrust of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia of having a main cultural festival for each town, a series of workshops were conducted for consideration on what would be the appropriate name of the cultural festival of the City of Naga.

A Festival Management Workshop was finally done on September 12, 2008 by the Provincial Committee on Relics, Sites and Structures at FSP Guesthouse in Barangay Naalad, City of Naga, Cebu which was well-attended by the LGU Sanggunian Officials and members of the Committee on Tourism, School P.E. and Music teachers, Barangay Officials, Parish Pastoral Council members, choreographers and different stakeholders.

Four (4) festival names were proposed during the workshop: the “Dabahan, Tina, Narra and Dagitab” by weighing up the significant points of each proposed name.

After a thorough deliberation by those who were present, DAGITAB FESTIVAL was declared as the official cultural festival name of the City of Naga in consideration of the following facts: First, the town is an electric power source with KEPCO and SPC Power Corporation both in Barangay Colon which address the looming power shortage in the Visayas region as it takes on the construction of a 200 MW Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion (CFBC) Power Plant at present.

Second, the LGU’s Annual Festival of Lights which starts December 8 simultaneous with the feast of Immaculada Concepcion and goes through the Christmas season.

Third, the town plaza and park has vibrant lamp posts installed everywhere that inspire townsfolk to stroll around the area, more particularly at St. Francis Ocean Park where a beautiful baywalk is constructed.

Fourth, the presence of different industrial companies which eventually zooms Naga to progress, giving hope to all Nagahanons for very blissful lives.  Likewise, this erases the phenomenon of the presence of “UNGO” in the locality which was once very quite and tranquil for it is now a well-lighted place to live… employ… and saunter!

Perceived with the flourishing growth and bright light to its dreams, Naga celebrates the “DAGITAB FESTIVAL”, which was launched on December 23, 2008.  Everybody is united and works hand-in-hand to make the annual festival as lively, exciting and successful as it is expected to be.  As the name expresses the six (6) aspects: light, progress, industry, tourism, economic development and employment to the people, Naga will be celebrating not just an ordinary festival but an en grande cultural festival year after year.