Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival: 5 Reasons To Be There On Its 5th Year

This year, the festival grounds will once again turn into an open-air gallery of inventive minds as it features works from more than 30 local and international artists, including Agnes Arellano, Wawi Navarroza, Ling Quisumbing Ramilo, and Leeroy New, among others. All of their works are synergistic with nature and reflective of Malasimbo’s dynamism.

Presence by Gus Albor

Giant Dandelions by Olivia d’Aboville

Iron Horse by Dondi Katigbak

Avatar by Agnes Arellano

3. World Class Performances

Of course, the Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival would not be complete without an awesome lineup of performers. This year, the festival is divided over two weekends. The first weekend is from March 6 – 8, which according to Miro Grgic, the festival’s director and co-founder, is going to be how it has always been: organic and magical. It is expected to attract its loyal audience from the different parts of the world. One of the most anticipated acts for this weekend is Ky-Mani Marley, the son of Bob Marley.

The second weekend, on the other hand, will cater to the younger market. Dubbed as the Malasimbo Dance and Lights Festival, this is going to provide the youth with a platform to showcase themselves in a festival culture. It is the first time that the organizers are putting this up and it is going to be done in collaboration with Japan’s BassCamp. As Grgic puts it, it is going to be an experiment on innovation and technology. Roots of hip-hop culture and dance music will be the highlight of the event with focus on sound quality.

The Crowd Enjoying Last Year’s Performances

2. The Malasimboat Party

The Malasimboat

4 hours of partying on a boat. The promise of meeting new friends. Slide. Dive. Jump. See the stunning sunset. Eat grilled burgers and hotdogs. Dance through the DJs beats. These are more than enough reasons why the Malasimboat DJ Party is not to be missed.

1. Advocacy Support

Environment and culture are two of the most important pillars of the festival. Malasimbo’s rise to fame can be partly attributed to its kind heart, showing support to local indigenous groups and promoting awareness on environmental issues, such as the conservation of tamaraws, which are endemic to the province. The festival also supports coastal cleanups, mangrove planting, and promotion of solar power, among other green initiatives.

Aside from the art installations, there is also a demo Mangyan Village at the festival grounds. Here, you will get a glimpse of the way that they live, including the houses where they dwell. It features seven indigenous houses to represent each tribe. There are also workshops and performances to educate spectators.

Malasimbo is enchanting in ways more than one and it holds a promise that is almost impossible to be surpassed by any other festival in the country. Encapsulating the entire experience in words is almost impossible. Do not be left behind as the festival marks its 5^th year. Be there, be taken on a natural high, and be part of the #MalasimboMagic.