Baragatan Festival 2026 names float, pageant winners
MANILA, Philippines — More than 20 floats representing their respective local government units (LGUs) joined the Parada ng mga Palaweño on the opening week of the 2026 Baragatan Festival in Puerto Princesa City.
The town of Quezon won the Mainland Category Float for beautifully and ingeniously creating the face of its strong indigenous peoples (IP) community.
The second place went to the town of Taytay, known far and wide for its cultured South Sea pearls (especially those of Jewelmer), while the municipality of Rizal was proclaimed the third placer.
In the Island Category, the municipality of Linapacan was adjudged the champion.
The second place went to Araceli’s lush reef life, while third place went to the municipality of Culion, the former leper colony. In 2006, a centenary after its creation, the sanctuary was declared leprosy-free by the World Health Organization.
Baragatan comes from the Cuyonon word that means “to gather” or “meeting point.”
The newly-launched festival logo reflects the convergent-point idea by incorporating symbols associated with Palawan, including the Katala bird, pearls, ocean waves, leaves, jars, and human figures representing communities across the province.
Each of the contingent’s muse, who braved the early morning sun and danced throughout the thoroughfares that were part of the parade route, also competed in the Mutya ng Palawan 2027 search.
After the pageant, five delegates were proclaimed winners.
- Dolores Sanchez, Brookes Point (Miss Universe Philippines Palawan 2027)
- Fatima Sayad, Cuyo (Mutya ng Palawan – Earth 2027)
- Marc Krysteena Beatriz Luciano, Puerto Princesa (Mutya ng Palawan – World 2027)
- Farra Maxine Barber, San Vicente (Mutya ng Palawan – Global 2027), and
- Mary Rose Palay, Agutaya (Mutya ng Palawan 2027 1st runner-up)
The street dancing showdown and finale takes place today, June 23, at the PGP Convention Center.
The 2026 Baragatan Festival will culminate with a Parokya ni Edgar concert right after the Baragatan Festival winners, including the street dancing performances, have been given out.
In its recent tourism report, 2025 generated approximately P65.51 billion, as well as foreign visitor arrivals totalling 2.1 million.
This year’s festival, which ran for three weeks, followed the theme that revolved around the concept of “Makukulay na Yaman, Iisang Palawan.”
