(TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
TACLOBAN CITY-Twelve lighted and decorated floats and 12 contingents of dancers depicting the rich history and cultural heritage of the city will parade along the main streets of Tacloban as part of the Sangyaw Parade of Lights on June 29, 2023.
The City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) said that this year’s Parade of Lights will be participated in by seven local schools, three barangays, and two LGU-based contingents and floats, which will creatively and meticulously portray the historical narrative behind El Capitan’s (the main image of Señor Sto. Niño de Tacloban) loss at sea and eventual return to Tacloban that happened in the 1880s, and the basis of the city’s current fiesta date.
Acting City Tourism Chief Ma. Lumen Tabao said that the Leyte-Samar Heritage Society, Inc., has come up with the guidelines for the participating contingents to make sure that they “jive’’ with the historical and cultural significance of the event.
Comprising the contingents are Tacloban City National High School, Brgy. 91 Abucay, Tacloban Institute of Electronics, Sagkahan National High School, JE Mondejar Computer College, Brgy. 85 San Jose, KFDMT Barangay 53-B, Tacloban Angelicum Learning Center, Tacloban Night High School, San Jose National High School, LGU Basey, and LGU Caibiran.
The participating contingents received a cash subsidy of P150,000 each from the city government.
Twenty members will make up each contingent who will perform in each float that will pass through Real, Imelda, Rizal, and Justice Romualdez streets at 5:30 p.m. on June 29.
Entries will be judged for their design, costume, and performance in three areas spread throughout the parade route, and the announcement of winners will be made at the Balyuan Amphitheater.
Two officials from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) will make up the nine-member panel of judges.
About P500,000 and a trophy await the grand champion of the Festival Float Competition, while second and third placers will receive P300,000 and P200,000, respectively.
A consolation prize of P20,000 will be given to non-winners.
Special awards include “Best in Street Dance,” with a 20,000 prize, and “Best in Costume” and “Musicality,” with a prize of 10,000 pesos each.
Since Tacloban was classified as a highly urbanized city in 2008, the Sangyaw Festival has been regarded as the city’s official cultural event.
(HROCA/TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
