Magayon Festival (Month of May, Albay) - It relives the origin of Mayon Volcano. The festival features sports and cultural events and trade fairs. The focus of the event is the stage reenactment of the tragic love story of the legend of Daragang Magayon and Panganoron whose fatal deaths gave birth to the volcano. Legend has it that Magayon’s grave became Mayon while the clouds kissing her is Panganoron.
Sarung Banggi festival (Sto. Domingo, Albay Month of May - The Sarung Banggi festival marks the commemoration of an ingenuous Bicol heritage as Sto. Domingo, Albay celebrates its Maiden year last May 2002. This Cultural Festivity is in recognition of the invaluable contribution of the late Potenciano Valladolid Gregorio, a native of this town, to this municipality, the Bicol Region and the whole country for his music and compositions particularly the immortal love song Sarung Banggi that paved the way for and introduced the Philippines to the landmark of musical world.The uniqueness of Sarung Banggi is its bicolness, a festival that is genuinely Bicol. Sarung Banggi song identifies us as Bicolanos just as the Lupang Hinirang is for the Filipinos. Coinciding with the birth of the late composer, this Bicol Festival, calendared on the month of May and every year thereafter, is a weeklong non-stop celebration that aims to display the rich cultural legacy and exceptional character of the Domingueños being lovers of arts and music. The main attraction of this Festival is a one of a kind street presentation, as it is held in the evening that best depicted the theme of the song Sarung Banggi. Exciting choreographies and impressive costume designs were seen with matchless intense lighting from indigenous materials.
In May 19 of 1880, Potenciano V. Gregorio was born in a modest little town of Libog now Sto. Domingo, not knowing that he would be instrumental in bringing honor, prestige and making his hometown more popular thru his composition, the most famous love song “Sarung Banggi”.
It is a very inspiring love story that was transformed into a beautiful song. It goes something like this…that one quiet dark night, the composer Potenciano V. Gregorio, solitary lying in his bed reminiscing how this young lady caught his mind and heart of whom he met that night. His longing for the young lovely lady remained until he fell asleep. Suddenly, he was awakened and heard the lonely chirping of a bird that sounds so sweet, inviting and enchanting tune to the ears of a person with a hear gilled with so much love. He was then encouraged to get up and looked outside the window. There in the dark, he saw clearly the charming face of the young lady. The loneliness, in his heart was changed to extreme peace, happiness and a deep knowledge of his love to the lady whom he adored greatly. That very night, Lolo Poten was motivated and inspired to write the lyrics of the song Sarung Banngi.
The song carries a meaningful message of love that touches the heart of so many people. It became the favorite of local serenaders and spread widely in the entire Bicol Region, then through out the Philippines and abroad. It gives an inspiration and pride in the heart of every Domingueños that the LGU brought the idea of honoring Potenciano V. Gregorio through Executive Proclamation No.1 s. 2002 signed by Honorable Mayor Herbie Aguas on the 8th day of January 2002 at Sto. Domingo, albay, hence, the Sarung Banggi Festival was born.