Another festival is born.

Langub, which pays tributes to the dozens of caves in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, was held - as a festival for the first time - on Jan. 25, which was highlighted by a showdown of participating tribes divided into eight clusters - with each represented by four barangays.

The Langub Festival is a call for people to join us in our celebration, said Mayor Enozario Baldoza, mayor of Mabinay, dubbed as 'Cave Town' of Negros.

Vice Mayor Ernie Uy, celebration coordinator, said Langub Festival aims to preserve and promote the town, serve as an occasion of thanksgiving and make townsfolk and their guests celebrate with joy and unity for the natural wonders of the town.

"The call of the unknown continues to attract nature lovers to newer avenues of exploration and our caves here await these adventurers and nature lovers where they will find caves of various shapes and sizes, stalactites and stalagmites of spectacular colors and formations, crystal caverns, chamber and cathedrals as well as subterranean waterfalls and rivers," the mayor added.

Tribu Dhagpas of Cluster 1, composed of performers from Barangays Dahile, Hagtu, Samac and Pandanon, emerged the champion and the best showdown group in the competition which required participants to portray indigenous storylines. The group was choreographed by Danny Dinopol and his assistant, Robert Steeve Serban.

Pundok Pa-abuba of Cluster 2 (representing Barangays Paniabonan, Abis, Bato and Bugnay) was declared first runner-up and best in streetdance and took the special awards for the best costume, best float and best arch while Tribu Cangdagpan of Cluster 7 (Cangguhob, Cansal-ing, Dagbasan and Pantao) was second runner-up and was declared best in choreography. The choreographers of the runners-up tribes are Teody Hebalo and Edward Rebotaso and Gerry Ponzalan and Jingjing Villalon, respectively.

The other special awardees were Cluster 3 (Luyang, Tadlong, Bulibulihan and Lambangan), best in instrumentation; and Cluster 8 (Barras, Banban, Arebasore and Manlingay),best in its King and Queen entourage.

The board of judges included oriental Negros Board Member Mariant Escaño-Villegas, Rtudy Reveche and Ismael Java, cultural specialists of Bacolod City and tourism officers Raffy Dahaylungsod of Bayawan and Randy Brando Woo of Bais.

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