The Buyogan Festival in the town of Abuyog, Leyte is celebrated in conjunction with the time leading to the town's fiesta which is on the 29th of August.
At the onset of the month of August, the town is filled with excitement as the Buyogan festival is again to be held and the Buyogan Dance Group will once again show the spectacle of the town's festival in different competitions around the country.
The term "Buyogan" is derived from the town's name Abuyog. Legend tells that the town got its name when the Spaniards, during the 1500s, landed in the town and asked for its name. One inhabitant of the town thought that the Spaniards were asking for the name of the swarm of bees flying around. The man answered "Ah! Buyog" - buyog, the Waray-waray term for bees. The rest is history.
The highlight of the Buyogan Festival is the Buyogan parade joined by different groups. Participants dress themselves in different colorful costumes patterned to the different shapes and colors of the bee life. Children depict little bees buzzing around in a reproduction of a beehive. Other participants dance with paint and henna tattoo, in tribal designs, on their faces and bodies representing the ethnic history of the town.
The Buyogan Festival has become widely known around the Philippines because of the Buyogan Dance Group's immensely beautiful performances around the country. It has won 1st place honors in the different dance competitions it participated like that of the Aliwan Dance Festival in Pasay City, the Sinulog Dance Festival in Cebu City, Pintados Dance Competition in Tacloban City, and many more. The Buyogan Festival has become one significant source of pride for all the people of Abuyog, Leyte.
Held every 19th day of August, Buyogan Festival is another highly popular and attractive festival in the Philippines. Annually, the local government of Abuyog organizes this special event to celebrate the founding as well as the rich history of the town.
To highlight the festivities, local residents participate in dances while wearing colorful costumes and make-ups that closely resemble the appearance of bees. In addition, the choreography of these outstanding and entertaining dance presentations also mimics the graceful movements and behaviors of honeybees.