In the year 1999 was the very first time that the said festival was seemly presented by participants in every barangay which apparently dealt excitement to the crowd and visitors who came just to witness the most awaited event every month of July.

This year, the second Pagsalabuk event was done last July 1 as part of the week long celebration of Araw ng Dipolog.

The term “Pagsalabuk” is of ethnic origin that means “gathering” that came from the early tribal settlers called the Subanos or river people who were part of the second wave of Malay migrations to the Philippines.

The presentation is not actually Subanen or ethnic in nature,  it is supposed to be just distinct ballroom dancing, on the streets, where dancers promenade in the tune of Tango,  Samba or Swing without the use of any musical instrument except with the accompaniment of drums in any sizes with a beat creating a melody of the dances mentioned above.

Hon. Alton “John” Caermare Ratificar,  Dipolog City councilor and  founder of the said festival elaborates why he uses the Subanen word “Pagsalabuk” he said “…so as to pay tribute or as a tribute to the Subanen tribe who were the original settlers of the Orchid City of Dipolog.

He further reasoned out that he wants to create a street dancing activity which is different from the others with due respect to the sponsoring body of Sinulog of Cebu.

In the Philippines, street dancing are generally ethnic in nature.  “That’s why I created something different which uses ballroom dancing steps;  done in the streets but only moving to the beat of the drums”,  he replied.

Dipolog’s Pagsalabuk festival something different from “Dalit” of Tangub City, “Ati-atihan” of Calabo Aklan,  “Dinagyang” of Ilo-ilo, “Sandugo” of Bohol, “Kaamulan” of Malaybalay Bukidnon and “Kinabayo Festival” of Dapitan City.

  The above mentioned are just a few of street dancing in the Philippines today.