TACLOBAN CITY – This year’s fiesta of the city will showcase the highly anticipated ‘Parade of Lights’ and a dance drama presentation on June 29.
This was disclosed by Ma. Lumen Tabao, the officer-in-charge of the City Tourism Office during a media conference held on Tuesday (May 28).
Tabao said that the Sangyaw Festival will kick off on June 1, with one of its major highlights being the Parade of Lights, set to illuminate Tacloban’s downtown area.
The parade will include both a float category and a dance drama presentation, adhering to recommendations from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
With 12 confirmed participants and the possibility of three more, the Parade of Lights promises a dazzling display of creativity and cultural pride, Tabao said.
Participants will be screened by the Leyte-Samar Heritage Society, Incorporated with the farthest contingent will come from San Jose, Northern Samar.
Each participating group will receive a subsidy of P100,000.
Prizes for the float competition include P500,000 for the champion, P300,000 for second place, and P200,000 for third place.
Consolation prizes of P20,000 will be awarded to other participants.
The dance drama presentation, to be held at Tacloban’s Balyuan Amphitheater, offers prizes of P200,000, P150,000, and P100,000 for the top three, with a P20,000 consolation prize for others.
Logistical preparations are being finalized with the Tacloban City Police Office (TCPO) and the Traffic Operation Management Enforcement and Control Office (TOMECO). A security plan will be presented by the PNP to ensure the safety of participants and spectators.
The city is optimistic about surpassing last year’s tourist arrival count of 300,000.
The city observes its annual fiesta on June 30 in honor of its patron, Senior Santo Niño.
(GOLDA MEIR C. CABIDOG, LEYTE NORMAL UNIVERSITY STUDENT INTERN)
