By I. Inojales | 10:50 AM June 14, 2026
CATIGBIAN, Bohol — The municipality of Catigbian has launched its week-long celebration of its 76th Foundation Anniversary and the 20th Katigbawan Festival, highlighting the town’s rich culture, agricultural heritage, tourism potential, and community development.
Mayor Benjie Oliva said the annual celebration serves as a showcase of Catigbian’s governance initiatives, cultural identity, local economy, and tourism attractions, reflecting the municipality’s vision of becoming a prime agricultural and ecotourism hub with a resilient and empowered citizenry.
The Katigbawan Festival, which has become the centerpiece of the town’s foundation celebration since its introduction in 2005, draws inspiration from several elements closely associated with Catigbian.
These include the abundant katigbi grass, the town’s well-known kabawan or animal auction market, and the tigbaw, referring to the stalactites and stalagmites found in the municipality’s cave systems.
Over the years, successive local administrations have strengthened and expanded the festival, encouraging participation from all barangays and transforming it into one of the province’s most anticipated local celebrations.
One of the festival’s enduring attractions is the street dancing competition, particularly its signature carabao dance, which has become a defining feature of Katigbawan performances.
This year’s celebration features a variety of activities, including the Foundation Katigbawan Fun Run, badminton tournaments, the traditional Carabao Parade, an agricultural fair, Farmers’ Day activities, and cultural and heritage presentations.
Catigbian is also highlighting its local products through the Katigbawan Food Bazaar, which gathers around 30 vendors offering locally produced food and delicacies. The food market has become a regular feature of the foundation celebration and has helped promote local entrepreneurship while showcasing the municipality’s agricultural products.
Carabao parade
The town has also institutionalized the Tabo sa Katigbawan Agrifair, providing farmers and local producers an avenue to display and market their goods. Farmers’ Day activities include technology demonstrations, presentations on modern farming practices, and animal health services.
A major highlight of the celebration is the Carabao Parade, where carabaos are decorated and dressed according to the creativity of their owners before parading through town streets.
The foundation day celebration on June 17 will feature the Katigbawan Street Dancing Festival competition, with six competing clusters vying for top honors. Triple Union, Alegria, and Bongbong will seek to retain their championship status from last year’s competition, while other clusters, including the Poblacion group, aim to capture the title.
The municipality’s educational institutions are expected to play a significant role in the performances, adding to the competitive atmosphere of the festival.
Nightly entertainment activities are also scheduled throughout the week, featuring live band performances and community gatherings that culminate in the closing festivities on June 19.
Now on its 20th year, the Katigbawan Festival continues to serve as a platform for promoting Catigbian’s culture, agriculture, tourism, and community spirit while celebrating the municipality’s 76 years of local governance and development. With reports from Helen Castaño
