A festival based on the town's origin where its name was derived. It features cultural street parade, exhibits, sailboat race, beauty pageant and the Balik-Gubat which is the highlight of the festival.
Ginubat, an old Bikol word, means “a place that was raided”. Historically, many places in the Bicol Region, including what is now the Municipality of Gubat, were frequently raided by marauding Moro pirates who looted and burned these places and took their men, women and children as captives.
The people of Gubat, however, chose to downplay this dark past and, instead, harked back to a popular folk story about a time in the past when a large number of giant fishes “raided” the seaside village. Although this phenomenon alarmed the townsfolk, it was also considered by many as actually a blessing because it meant food for the villagers. This, according to old folks, is how Gubat got its name – the “raid” of the fishes.
The Ginubat Festival is held every second week of June, which also coincides with the Gubat town fiesta, highlighted by a street dance down the streets of Gubat town by colorfully-attired dancers.
source: www.wowpinoy.net
