• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Mayor Miguel Angelo Yulo is aiming to make the resurrected “Tigkalalag Festival” a permanent festival of the municipality of Isabela.
We don’t want that if there is a new mayor, the town will also have another festival, said Yulo, who led the opening of Uswag Isabela Agri and Community Trade Fair on Thursday, at the población of Isabela.
With the triumphant comeback of the Tigkalalag Festival in his first year as the town mayor, Yulo said Isabela bagged the championship in the municipal category of the 30th Panaad sa Negros Best of Festival Dances held last week.
Tigkalalag was launched during All Souls Day on November 2, 2008, by the late Isabela Mayor Renato Malabor Sr.
Yulo said that Isabela town is popularly known for its Tigkalalag Festival.
This is our festival, this our culture; this our history, this our identity, the neophyte mayor said, stressing that he wants to maintain it.
The Sangguniang Bayan of Isabela led by Vice Mayor Renato Malabor Jr. is slated to pass an ordinance making the Tigkalalag the permanent festival of Isabela.
The Tigkalalag Festival is a distinct, morbid-themed cultural celebration in Isabela, Negros Occidental, celebrated annually from October 31 to November 2 to observe All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
The festival highlights local traditions, featuring spine-chilling, high-energy performances that recently won the municipality category at the 2026 Panaad sa Negros Festival.*
