Manaragat

Festival
The MANARAGAT FESTIVAL is a tribute to the
fishermen of Catbalogan celebrated every whole month of August. Small fishermen share
their catch of fishes and other sea products which they trade in the local market to earn an
income that would support their families. The MANARAGAT is a festive dance characterized
by varied movements and intricate steps of the different fishes and shells inhabiting
Maqueda Bay and beautifully presented by the dancers in fantastic and colorful costumes.
This is one of the most colorful and vivid rituals that the Catbaloganons love to portray and
witness. Manaragat Festival of Catbalogan City honours Patron Saint, St. Bartholomew held
every 24th of August as the miraculous Saint who maintained the richness of Maqueda Bay
as a major fishing ground of the province of Samar. Manaragat Festival is interpreted by
colours, dances and the sound of drums that echoed through the deep culture of the fishing
industry that stayed long in the history of Catbalo

The Manaragat Festival is interpreted by colours, dances and the sound of drums that
echoed through the deep culture of the fishing industry that stayed long in the history of
Catbaloganons
When this annual celebration started, it was then dubbed as the MANGIRISDA FESTIVAL of
Catbalogan rooted from word “isda”, which mean fish – the major catch of the
hardworking and steadfast fishermen and fisherfolks inhabiting the coasts of Maqueda
Bay. In 2007 however, the general identity of the said festival was changed to a more
extensive name. Hence, the MANARAGAT FESTIVAL came into existence embracing not
only the fishes but also other marine life such as crustaceans, planktons, and corals that
everywhere abode in the waters of Maqueda Bay. Since then, the name grew from a mere
celebration to a uniting factor encouraging good camaraderie and positive outlook for the
people and for Catbalogan as a whole.

The festival serves as a colorful and lively opening salvo for the Catbalogan City Fiesta, which
falls on the following day. Performed in a mardi gras style, the festival is largely inspired by
the Maqueda Bay, which bore a significant impact on Catbaloganon’s way of life in the past
and even at present.