GRAND WINNER. Mary Joy Rescovilla of Barangay Kilicao, Daraga, Albay shows the lucky ticket number that secured her win of a house and lot in a raffle during the Bicol Loco Festival sponsored by Ako Bicol (AKB) Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co at the Old Airport, Legazpi City on May 4, 2024. Rescovilla, along with her husband and three children, lives with her parents in Kilicao. (PNA photo by Connie Calipay)
LEGAZPI CITY – The colorful hot air balloons, mesmerizing skydiving stunts, and airplane aerobatics, as well as the electrifying musical performances, might just be a memory for many, but for three Bicolanos whose lives were changed by the first-ever Bicol Loco Festival, which ended Sunday, the three-day spectacle will forever remain etched in their hearts.
The lucky house and lot winner
Mary Joy Rescovilla of Kilicao village in Daraga town believes it was God's grace and not just some random stroke of luck that secured her win in the coveted house-and-lot raffle sponsored by Ako Bicol (AKB) Party-List Rep. Elizaldy Co.
"On the first day, I waited in line for long hours only to come away empty-handed. But on the second day, I really had an intense desire to get a ticket no matter what the cost. It was all I could think about," the 30-year-old teacher said in the vernacular.
"Now I realize why the queue was swift on my second attempt. It was because I was truly meant to be there. That is the blessing that the Lord has bestowed upon me," she added wistfully.
Rescovilla, along with her husband and three children, lives with her parents in Kilicao.
Despite the young family's desire to move out, as 15 people are cramped together in the house, the combined income of a teacher and a maintenance worker is not enough to make both ends meet.
"We really wanted to own a house but we just couldn't afford it yet," the young mother said.
On May 4, in front of an 85,000 crowd who gathered to witness heartthrob Jericho Rosales and former Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia light up the stage at the old Legazpi Airport, Rescovilla claimed her PHP1.5 million worth of house and lot at Eco Homes in Barangay Puro, Legazpi City.
"Right now, we simply want to live in the house and lot that we won, although we still plan to stay here in Kilicao during the weekdays because it is near my workplace," she said.
The sprightly senior citizen
When Josephine Torrente, 60, from Catanduanes province, learned that Albay would stage the first-ever Bicol Loco Festival, she and her three silver-haired squad immediately planned to book a ferry ride to Legazpi City.
"We just couldn't miss it for the world. Despite the hassle of traveling at our age, we really made sure to come because this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Torrente said in the vernacular.
"Just imagine, we no longer have to travel all the way to Turkey or even to Pampanga just to witness this spectacular aerial display," the sprightly elderly added.
Torrente said aside from the awe-inspiring early morning flights of colorful balloons and exhilarating aerial exhibitions, she also enjoyed the live performances of two of the hottest musical icons in the Philippines, despite the long walk to reach the concert arena.
"Watching Sarah Geronimo and Bamboo perform their songs live makes the sacrifice worth it," the college professor said.
"AKB is doing great. Personally, I felt a different kind of excitement just by gazing up at the spectacular sight of vibrant balloons adorning the sky."
The hardworking tricycle driver
For Bobby Antones, 37, of Barangay Homapon, Legazpi City, no sight can be more thrilling than coming home with enough food for his family after a hard day's work.
While this hardworking tricycle driver never got the chance to participate in the merriment inside the old airport in Albay, he said the festival was truly memorable as he was able to more than double his daily income during the three-day event.
"There were too many passengers. I went out at 8 a.m., which was a bit late for the hot air balloon, but there were still many people eager to watch. Later in the evening, the concert also drew large crowds," he recounted.
Antones said he took home PHP1,000 per day during the three-day festivities, a far cry from the PHP400 daily income he gets on regular days.
"My friend who was also a tricycle driver earned more than PHP2,000 a day because he was really very persistent. I just could not match his energy," he said sheepishly.
Antones expressed hope that the province would stage more festivities that draw large crowds, adding that this is a big help for ordinary folk like him to augment their meager income.
Bicol Loco Festival
Designed to attract more tourists to the region, the first-ever hot air balloon and music festival aimed to position Bicol as an adventure and entertainment hub while also boosting the local economy.
“The Bicol Loco Festival is not just a celebration of our rich culture and the breathtaking sights of our region, like the Mayon Volcano. It's also a pivotal platform for job creation, aimed at bolstering our local economy through tourism,” Co said.
The festival may be long over but for the three locals, the Bicol Loco Festival is enough proof that dreams can take flight when given the right opportunity. (PNA)
