Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival: Jump On Board for Another Heavenly Adventure at Puerto Galera

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It was way back in 1981 when Frenchman Hubert d'Aboville first fell in love with Puerto Galera located at Oriental Mindoro here at our beloved country, the Philippines. It was also that same year when he met his Filipina wife, Araceli Valenzuela, and when they got married a year after, they chose to live in the same place where Hubert invested all his savings in a small property that eventually got bigger and better.

But it was because he was so in love with the place that he partnered with Croatian Miro Grgic, who happens to be his daughter Olivia's boyfriend, to organize a music and arts festival for the whole world to see the beauty of Puerto Galera. With much energy and enthusiasm, Hubert hurriedly approached the Mayor of Puerto Galera, Hubert Dolor, to coordinate on where to hold the event, of which later on he eventually realized that the best venue was right at his very own property. 

The year 2010 was the start of a phenomenon! Something that no one else have done before! It was the beginning of the Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival! Through the years it has flourished and became bigger and better!

This year, the same magnificent festival that was named after the Malasimbo mountain will be held on February 27 until March 3 - now a five-day event to truly make the festival a remarkable fun-filled occasion for everyone.

I was ecstatic when I heard that the festival has been a favorite for the past years and lately by around 17 nationalities already. The huge crowd is coming from both local and international audiences based from statistics gathered from one of their event partners, and is expected to grow even bigger this year as many organizations partner to promote the grandest event happening at Puerto Galera. This is another success for Philippine tourism!

The Malasimbo festival comprised of what Hubert calls the four pillars - music, arts, indigenous people (IP), and the environment, which are all very close to his heart.

It seems like it's a well-bonded family affair that Hubert initiated, as Miro (his daughter's boyfriend) is responsible for the music selections, her daughter Olivia takes care of the arts, and his wife is her connection to the indigenous people, while he preserves the beauty of Mount Malasimbo. They all help each other out to accomplish a greater good beyond the fun and laughter. The event is an appreciation of the beauty of everything worth preserving and enjoyed at Puerto Galera!


The recent presscon held at the Sofitel hotel in Manila last January 16 gave us a preview of what to expect this coming February. If the slight glimpse of the enchanting music and some of the delightful works of art from local and international talents were an indication of how stunning the rest of the crafts and artists will be, then we are surely blessed to become part of the upcoming festival. It will definitely be a heavenly treat for all attendees who will join the celebration.

From the already high 1,500 people who attended the very first run, to the staggering 6,000 heads who attended the two-day event last year, this year will surely be another talk-of-the-town attracting a much bigger crowd!

It is with great admiration that the "festival blends traditional & contemporary arts & culture together with music performances while working towards the protection & sustainability of the environment". It is not very often you see like-minded individuals who have the nobility to pursue worthy endeavors such as these. They deserve to be praised for sharing it to the rest of the world.

Some of the artists to light up your world during the event are "indie folk singer-songwriter and guitarist Jose Gonzalez, soul-jazz fusion pioneers Roy Ayers and Lonnie Liston Smith, pioneer of spiritual jazz and jazz funk genres, legendary UK vocalist and now M.B.E Omar and the exceptional 2013 Grammy award winners Robert Glasper Experiment, US produce and solo artist Osunlade, the twisted musical mash up showman, Mad Professor, legendary disco and party good times ambassador, Greg Wilson, the finest party purveyors,Heavy Boogie. Other artists announced so far also include Mark De Cliv–Lowe, Low Leaf, June Marieezy and Jordan Rakei".


Don't know how to go to Puerto Galera? Read on: http://www.malasimbofestival.com/getting-there

For more information, please check their official website at: http://www.malasimbofestival.com/

Also look into their Facebook page for updates and announcements: https://www.facebook.com/Malasimbofestival

You may also check for more photos and updates at the Wazzup Pilipinas Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/wazzuppilipinas

*Photo credits from Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival official Facebook page