Tovic Salvador

People enjoy a view of Mayon volcano from Quintinian Hills in Daraga Albay on June 16, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

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ABS-CBN News Digital Intern

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177511842742320260402 (3).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>People enjoy a view of Mayon volcano from Quintinian Hills in Daraga Albay on June 16, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File </div>The Bicol region&#x27;s festival season has collided with the combined burden of the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/3/22/phivolcs-records-effusive-eruption-at-mayon-volcano-remains-at-alert-level-3-1953">continuous unrest of Mayon Volcano</a> in Albay and rising costs of fuel.Local government units (LGU) are pulling the plug on long-anticipated festivities, citing Mayon&#x27;s instability and economic crisis. Leading the retreat is the Magayon Festival. In a press conference last March 18, Albay governor Noel Rosal officially announced the cancellation of the month-long celebration of the abundance of harvest and heritage.While the scheduled national oil price hike was recently stalled by the President, the reprieve proved insufficient to offset the combined weight of Mayon’s agitation and soaring oil prices along with almost all commodity prices. The cancellation of Magayon has triggered a wave of similar suspensions across the region.In Camalig, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AiwqaZEHJ/">Mayor Carlos Irwin Baldo issued Executive Order No. 13</a>, s. 2026, officially suspending the Pinangat Festival. The order cited a dual blow of &quot;economic and environmental crises.&quot;  Camalig remains under a State of Calamity. With over 10,000 residents potentially facing evacuation if Mayon hits Alert Level 4, the LGU determined it was &quot;inappropriate&quot; to spend on a festival while constituents were suffering.In Camarines Norte, the provincial government announced the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DhwT4Edyp/">cancellation of the Bantayog Festival</a>, a move that sent shockwaves through the local cultural sector.Unaffected by Mayon, Camarines Norte acting governor Joseph Ascutia said the move was &quot;to implement austerity measures amid national economic uncertainty, including the record-low drop of the Peso and high inflation.&quot;Some reacted to the &quot;unconsulted decision&quot; to cancel the festivities.Angela Tabago, 22, a resident of Camarines Sur, publicly voiced her questions about the seeming exclusion of local artisans and the culture and arts sector in the decision-making process. She questioned why the very people who build these festivals — the artists and cultural workers — were left out of the room where the decisions were made. The concern is particularly acute to those who had already invested capital into preparations. Many arts sectors are left holding the bill for costumes, props, and rehearsals that now have nowhere to be used for. The grand parades are replaced by a cautious wait. Bicolanos are in a scene of needing something to look forward to not just to celebrate, but to make a living. For cultural dancers, props men, and choreographers to pinangat vendors, this cancellation of celebrations like festivals feels further away than ever.

The Bicol region’s festival season has collided with the combined burden of the continuous unrest of Mayon Volcano in Albay and rising costs of fuel.

The Bicol region’s festival season has collided with the combined burden of the continuous unrest of Mayon Volcano in Albay and rising costs of fuel.

Bicol festivals grind to a halt amid Mayon's unrest, soaring costs

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Bicol festivals grind to a halt amid Mayon's unrest, soaring costs

ABS-CBN News Digital Intern,

Izel Manata

Published April 02, 2026 04:27 PM PHT

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travel

tourism

Mayon Volcano

Bicol

culture

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