When Teachers Get Their Turn in the Spotlight
GENERAL SANTOS CITY - DepEd Night gave educators and school communities a special place in the Kagatbu Festival 2026 celebration in Barangay Labangal. Mayor Lorelie Geronimo Pacquiao joined the festivities under the leadership of Punong Barangay Alberto “Bobby” Pacquiao, turning the evening into a gathering where teachers and school representatives could relax and enjoy the occasion. The event also reflected Labangal’s long-running connection with Kagatbu Festival, which the city’s official barangay profile identifies as part of the barangay’s foundation-anniversary activities. With schools represented through performances and competitions, the celebration offered something different from an ordinary school program: a community night built around fun, participation, and appreciation.
Rice Assistance Adds a Practical Touch
The celebration was not limited to performances and friendly competition. According to the event reference provided by the organizers, Mayor Pacquiao gave 10 kilograms of rice to each of 315 recipients, adding a practical form of assistance to the festivities. The mayor and Punong Barangay Bobby Pacquiao also increased the prizes for five Singing Contest participants by PHP5,000 each, while six schools competing in the TikTok Dance Competition received an additional PHP10,000 each. Those gestures gave the evening a more generous character, especially for participants who came prepared to perform. Instead of simply watching a program, attendees had several reasons to take part, cheer, and celebrate together.
Six Schools Bring the Energy to the Festival
The TikTok Dance Competition gave participating schools another way to showcase creativity outside the classroom, while the Singing Contest added a musical element to the evening. Mayor Pacquiao was joined by SK Federation President Elijah Joanne Polistico-Pacquiao and Kagawad Graziel Pacquiao during the celebration, according to the supplied event reference. The official Sangguniang Panlungsod profile confirms Alberto D. Pacquiao as Labangal’s punong barangay, Graziel G. Pacquiao as a barangay kagawad, and Elijah Joanne B. Polistico as SK chairperson. Together, those details place DepEd Night within the broader community structure of Labangal, where education, youth participation, and neighborhood celebrations can share the same stage.
