Iriga City bustles with energy as it celebrates Tinagba Festival 2025.

Held annually every 11th of February, the festival is an old Bicolano tradition of offering the first harvests to the gods. The event kicks off with a concelebrated mass as thanksgiving, followed by the banging of the “patong” by Iriga City Mayor Rex Oliva, marking the official start of the festivities.

Mayor Oliva is joined by DOT-Region V Director Herbie B. Aguas, former Senator Leila M. de Lima, Vice Mayor Edsel S. Dimaiwat, members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, and guests.

A parade of carabao-drawn floats proceeds where farmers showcase their fresh harvests.

Added highlight to the festival is the street dancing competition featuring participants from various barangays, organizations, and schools.

Dancers, clad in opulent attires, perform in harmonized routine to the tune of Bicolano’s way of life.

Tinagba is an old Bicol thanksgiving ritual revived by Jose Reyes Calleja in the early ’70s. Believed to be the precursor to many festivals which popped up in the country.

In “Memories of Iriga” Facebook page post, Sofronio Sonny Magistrado wrote:

“Culled from the root word tagba, defined by Lisboa in his 17th-century dictionary as “coger las primicias del arroz,” or to pick, gather or harvest the first fruit of rice, the tinagba was resurrected from the dustbin as a manifestation of Calleja’s interest in Bicol culture and his personal devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes.”

Magistrado notes Calleja’s revival of Tinagba was meant as a tourism come-on for Iriga on the account of Calleja being a hoteliere.

Other highlights of the month-long occasion include the Mount Iriga Climb, “Kasalang Tribu,” Mount Iriga Mountain Bike Challenge, and the 3rd Bicol Artists Congress. (Photos and text: Elmer Valenzuela)