Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival Puerto Galera 2011
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Image courtesy Villa Malasimbo
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The Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival is a two-day festival aiming to blend traditional and contemporary arts & culture with musical performances. At the same time the Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival will highlight the need for us all to work towards the protection of the diversity and sustainability of the natural environment in the Philippines and around the World.
To be held at Villa Malasimbo, at the foot of Mount Malasimbo – the predominant mountain whose extent provides pictorial splendor to the most beautiful bay in the World – the Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival is an all-outdoors event, set in one of the World’s rare, natural amphitheaters.
Adjacent to the amphitheater a replica Mangyan village will showcase the varied architecture of the seven distinct Mangyan Tribes of Mindoro, showcasing also their indigenous art and crafts, such as hand-loom weaving, basketry, ethnic jewelry. In the replica Mangyan village, all their hand-crafted products will be available for sale.
The Mangyan tribes are the original settlers of Mindoro Island and, through archeology and handed-down stories, they can trace their roots back at least 6,000 years in the area of what is now Puerto Galera. Long before the Spanish arrived to name the Philippines, and attempted to impose their brand of civilization onto the various Mangyan tribes of Mindoro, a rich culture already existed here – a culture that had its own, refined written & oral language, and that created art of astounding beauty and variety.
Gold, collected from the rivers and streams of Mount Malasimbo, and beyond from Mount Halcon, was always a significant element for Mangyan artistic expression – by virtue of its brilliance and ease of styling into personal adornments. Even today, the Mangyans still collect and trade gold from the rivers, and produce some exquisite expressions of their vibrant history. Handmade beads compliment the gold for jewelry and, in addition, there is a rich tradition of tapestry for cloth, plus reed & vine weaving for baskets and all manner of containers & dinnerware.
Coincident with the full-moon of 18th – 19th February, 2011, the Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival will open with a unique art exhibit of both the old and the new of the indigenous arts & culture of the Mangyan Tribes of Mindoro. A twelve-hour music program on the second day, from noon-to-midnight, will feature live performances of local and international artists. If you are in the audience you will be serenaded while lounging on hand-woven mats, or “banig“.
The Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival, held in one the World’s rare, natural amphitheaters, located in the most beautiful bay in the World, is an event surely not to be missed.
Getting to Puerto Galera is easiest from Manila, it requires only a 90-minute road trip to Batangas Port and then a one-hour ferry ride to Puerto Galera. You can drive yourself to Batangas or choose from a private hire car, a scheduled bus service or, either of the two hassle-free-get-you-there services offered by the Sikat Bus and the Swagman Bus – both of which leave Manila’s Ermita district every morning at around 8.00am. Alternatively, you could spend a little more and fly to Puerto Galera with the Subic Seaplane (pick up near Rizal Park, Manila, or from any sizable body of water).
Want to stay a few extra days in Puerto Galera and imbibe the modern ethnicity? Click the “Where To Stay In Puerto Galera” link below for more information.
Links:
The Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival website
The nearest webcam to the Malasimbo festival Puerto Galera Webcam, Muelle Bay
Where To Stay in Puerto Galera
Ferry and Bus Services:
– Sikat Bus
– Swagman Bus
Fly to Puerto Galera with the Subic Seaplane