‘Pili Festival’ celebrates abundance despite Mt. Bulusan’s ash eruptions
SORSOGON CITY, Sorsogon — The restiveness of Mount Bulusan which is very near here these past few days did not stop the city and its gaily folk from celebrating a good harvest of its prized nut through the annual “Pili Festival” that kicked off last Monday.
Mayor Sally Lee of Sorsogon City said the festivity is “a sharing of what God given to Sorsoganons.”
“We celebrate Pili Festival not just because we’re known for a place producing raw materials of Pili, but like Festivals in the Old Testament, there are lots of benefits being given to Sorsoganons. Because we’re blessed by God in abundance, we share to the marginalized sector,” Lee said.
The main streets of the city were filled with street dancers in colorful costumes from the Sorsogon National High School up to the Capitol.
Along with waltzing participantgroups from each barangay, motorcycle stunt men and various agricultural products joined the parade.
Lee said that apart from the cultural presentations, street parades and sports competitions, the main event of the festivity is getting everyone involved by giving land to farmers, giving fishing materials to fisherfolk, and giving medicines to the poor.
“We are also giving gifts to detainees at the provincial jail, students and employees of the city government,” Lee added.
Provincial Administrator Bobet Lee Rodriguez said Sorsoganons are thankful that despite the successive phreatic eruptions of Mt. Bulusan, the ashfall on mostly pili-producing towns and villages did not adversely affect the growing of crops.