“When the fields are green and the grains are golden; When the machines work well and all business prosper; When the birds in the sky chirps freely, and men on earth are peacefully happy… Fr. Jose Ofracio
The 2024 Kasaggayahan Festival is a celebration of five decades of the Province of Sorsogon to what it is now, a land of prosperity, peace, opportunity and continuing progress.
Celebrating its 50th year the festival look back to 1974 marching to achieve the meaning of the word “Kasanggayahan,” how Sorsogon achieve its remarkable journey to prosperity were its people live in peace, in harmony, as one people overcoming challenges though diverse in political beliefs to achieve its status as a reclassified first class province.
It was not an easy road but the political will roars ahead as the populace seen the value of leadership even though not perfect but minor complains.
The rise in per capital income of local families was measured by the well intended-development goals spread province wide that decades lost in progress are bygones. It is the fulfillment of “when the fields are green and the grains are golden” for Sorsogon families have a plate of food in their table as the agri-fishery folks are one of the top agendas of the province.
The business environment is vibrant with least intervention from legislative rules aside from the large number of investments to cooperatives by small investors that fueled the local economy.
Moving forward this year golden celebration will showcase national competition for Ms. Kasanggayahan Philippines 2024, regional festivals, the Guinness World Record holder “Pantomina sa Tinampo,” concert of entertainment celebrities , the stylist street dancing and hopefully will achieve another Guinness World Record for coming up the biggest nut brittle in the world out of the Pili nut.
Thus the preparation for the October event is now in full gear after the kick-off meeting presided by Governor Edwin Hamor tasking the provincial structures to left no things unattended to achieve a grand celebration.
National agencies are into action particularly the Tourism and Promotion Board of DOT which will co-promote the festival to national importance as highlighted by the visit of the DOT secretary.
The governor tourism plan for Sorsogon is not confined for the region but pushing Kasanggayahan Festival to worldwide attention inching its promotions to a bigger stage.
The humble beginning of Kasanggayahan Festival in 1974 as an agri fair has evolved to what it is now that carried its true spirit.