While the Dinagat Festival started in 1999, it went through a reinvention in 2005. During this time, the local government of Cordova launched the “Bakasi Festival.” The term “bakasi” is the Cebuano word for the exotic eel that is abundant in the area. The Bakasi Festival was considered as a unique reinvention of the Dinagat Festival.
However, the name was changed back to the Dinagat Festival in 2013 to take into account the other marine resources of the town. It showcases the livelihood and fishing culture of the residents of the town. The festival also celebrates the feast day of San Roque, the patron saint of the town. While the feast day of the saint falls on August 16, the festivities start a few days earlier. The term “dinagat” refers to anything and everything associated with the sea. The word dagat means “sea.