Albay Biosphere Reserve

Honoring Tabaco City’s Metalcraft Heritage

For over two decades, Tabaco City has hammered out a unique legacy through a festival every June. Since 2002, the city has celebrated the annual Tabak Festival—a vibrant tribute to its generations-old blacksmithing industry and the local artisans keeping the traditional craft alive.

The city’s very name is rooted in this heritage, derived from the tabak (bolo) used by local farmers since the early 1900s. Today, Barangay Cobo serves as the city’s hub for this traditional cutlery art.

The festival was established in 2002, a year after Tabaco achieved cityhood under Republic Act 9020. Beyond promoting blacksmithing, the weeklong event showcases the city's diverse culture. Highlights include the Sibidan Race, a boat race celebrating Tabaco's coastal heritage, and the Padyak Race, a competitive nod to the city's pedal-powered tricycles.

To allow residents to participate, Malacañang has declared June 24 a special non-working day in Tabaco City. The date also coincides with the annual town fiesta held in honor of the city’s patron saint, St. John the Baptist.

Through its colorful cultural shows, parades, performances, agro-industrial fairs, and lively competitions, the Tabak Festival does more than draw tourists. It ensures Tabaco City’s rich artistry and tradition survive—not just as history, but as a lived and shared identity. Supporting this heritage is as simple as attending the festivities and buying handmade metalcrafts from the local artisans.

Photo: Tabaco City Tourism, Culture and the Arts Office (left), Department of Tourism Bicol Region (right)

ABRMC Convenes 2nd Quarter Meeting

The Albay Biosphere Reserve Management Council (ABRMC) successfully held its 2nd Quarter Meeting for CY 2026 on June 11, 2026 bringing together member agencies, partner institutions, and stakeholders committed to advancing the goals of the Albay Biosphere Reserve.

One of the key highlights of the meeting was the presentation of updates on two legislated protected areas within the Reserve — the Mount Masaraga Protected Landscape (MMPL) and the Ticao-Burias Pass Protected Seascape (TBPPS). These developments mark important milestones in strengthening biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection across the province.

The Council also discussed and endorsed proposed partnerships between the Provincial Government of Albay (PGA) and the Department of Education - Albay Division (DepEd Albay), as well as Bicol University College of Education Integrated Laboratory School High School Department (BUCEILS-HS), aimed at integrating the concept into the basic education and senior high school curricula. Through these initiatives, future generations of Albayanos will gain a deeper understanding of biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and the unique natural and cultural heritage of Albay.

As the Albay Biosphere Reserve continues to grow, the ABRMC remains committed to fostering collaboration among government agencies, academic institutions, local communities, and development partners to ensure that conservation and sustainable development go hand in hand.

Photo: Chard De Vera

Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro is now a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐚𝐲 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

(Legazpi City, June 10, 2026) The Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Albay has approved a provincial ordinance adopting guidelines for the registration, permitting, and recognition of public and private Child Development Centers and Learning Centers offering early childhood programs for children aged zero to four years.

The measure, proposed through the motion of Committee on Education Vice-Chairperson and 1st District Board Member Atty. John Gio Ong Bongao, was approved as Provincial Ordinance No. 0044-2026.

The ordinance institutionalizes a regular system of registration, monitoring, and recognition for public and private Child Development Centers and Learning Centers across the province.

It also authorizes the collection of a prescribed assessment fee of ₱500 for registration.

The measure recognizes ages zero to four as a critical stage in a child’s educational development.

Provincial officials said the ordinance seeks to promote the welfare, safety, and holistic development of young children in Albay through improved standards and oversight of early childhood learning facilities.

CMDacoro, Albay PIO