Binalbal Festival
binalbal festival annual festival held first january tudela misamis occidental philippine unique celebration welcoming new year townsfolk tudela participant disguised use mask allow full freedom inhibition new year celebration celebration people spectator wear mask outfit would represent definition binalbal binalbal derived local dialect balbal cebuano refers supernatural genus strangelooking lifeforms imp witch ogre like much like giant halloween costume party binalbal festival important cultural celebration many reveler clad gory costume since early beginning celebration traditionally start evening midnight december known masquerade ball continues noon time january grand parade binalbal festival started simply wearing mask new year day disguise identity person early prominent people tudela participated affair including gregorio aborka sofronio inting edmundo ruiz sr gregorio nebre florentino n olarte jose singson alberto raagas unrecorded personality metro barangays tudela associated wearing maskara mask outset new year bizarre makeup binalbal roamed street visiting friend relative asking gift biko suman native delicacy unique cultural tradition handed father tudelanians center theme focused love unity prosperity hope ultimately recommitting individual spiritual social code past combination merrymaking thanksgiving prayer good harvest good health good luck also occasion fun everyone word binalbal according official history published local government tudela dated january carry unsavory connotation originate word balbal witch denoting evil spirit coined mean municipality tudela inhabited balbals witch cebu sinulog aklan atiatihan illongos iloilo dinagyang rolled one binalbal tudela binalbal festival semblance halloween practice british isle ancient celt believed evening october samon ‘lord dead’ called forth many evil spirit ward supernatural creature darkness “druids” ancient religious leader among celtic people made great bonfire also similarity binalbal festival mardi gras—whose origin traced medieval europe passing rome venice th th century french house bourbons—portrays merrymaking parade masked ball street dancing halloween party led binalbals imitation witch ghost kind shape animal socalled fallen angel akin custom belief tudelanhons sometimes offer treat gift prevent evil spirit harm part northwestern mindanao municipality claim originality festival perpetuation tradition municipality tudela sanggunian resolution created municipal council local culture art purpose ensuring preservation enrichment promotion binalbal festival distinct cultural heritage tudelanians past year binalbal cultural festival supported provincial local government unit municipal council resolution mayor antero singidas festival recognized given financial support time mayor bernadette paredesencinareal festival given recognition department tourism project proposal request funding support national government department tourism duly furnished somehow materialize highly suggested mayor encinareal creation special committee specifically formulate plan program source fund innovative concern ensure continuity yearly tradition