Festival extravaganza kicks off in Tacloban
TACLOBAN CITY – The PintadosKasadyaan Festival of Festivals, EasternVisayas’ biggest cultural extravaganza, kicks off today with nine contingents participating.
The event brings together cultural performances that are the highlight of fiesta celebrations in the region.
Remedios Petilla, mayor of Palo, Leyte and chairperson for the event, said during a press conference seven of the participants are from Leyte, and one each from Biliran and Samar.
Vying in the Pintados are Kaplag Festival of Mahaplag, Lubi-Lubi Festival of Calubian, Buraburon Festival of Burauen, Buyogan Festival of Abuyog, and Maisayaw Festival of San Isidro.
The contingents for the Kasadyaan Festival are Tulo-usa Festival of Tolosa and Sanggutan Festival of Barugo, the defending champion. The two contingents from outside of Leyte province areIbid Festival from Caibiran, Biliran, and Patiklos Festival from Sta. Rita, Samar.
Petilla said this year’s grand champion will receive R750,000, the second place winner R500,000 and the third place winner R250,000.
All the participating contingents will receive R50,000.
Petilla said the festival is a way of promoting the rich cultural heritage of Leyte and Samar.
She expected this year’s performances to be more vibrant and exciting than in previous years.
Petilla said former champions in the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals had won in national festival competitions like the Aliwan and Sinulog.
He said he is confident this year’s champion would also fare well in the national contests.
About 5,000 police officers and other security personnel will secure the parade, according to Chief Inspector Ma. Bella Rentuaya, regional information officer of Police Regional Office.
The parade is one of the events leading to the fiesta of Tacloban on June 30.
Security will be tight during the parade performance and at the Leyte Sports Development Center, said Pintados Foundation President Eugene A.Tan.
The Tacloban police will be reinforced by officers from the Eastern Visayas Regional Police Office and the Leyte Police Provincial Office, Tan said.