Festival fever invades Tacloban
TACLOBAN CITY- Thousands lined the streets of this city to witness a grand parade that marked the start of the week-long 32nd Pintados and 23rd Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals.
Palo, Leyte Mayor Remedios L. Petilla, chair of the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals, said the holding of this year’s festival was the city’s way of thanking God, through the Holy Child, for surviving the Super-Typhoon Yolanda five years ago and for many other blessings.
Petilla said the festival will also show the rich cultural festivals of Leyte, as well as of the nearby Samar island.
The famous Burabod Festival of Burauen, Leyte that won in the recent Aliwan Festival in Manila; the Sanggutan Festival of Barugo, Leyte, Hereyti Festival of Leyte, Leyte; the Pasaka Festival of Tanauan, Leyte, and the Solosugi Festival of Balangiga, Eastern Samar competed in the dance parade around the major streets of Tacloban City that ended at the Leyte Sports Development Center for the festival competition proper.
Jack Uy, president of the Tacloban City Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, said a festive atmosphere engulfed the city with the holding of the festival.
Uy said even the local business community enjoyed the holding of the festival as many people that came to the city meant brisk business for the local economy.
Prizes for the festival competition was R1 million for the grand prize, R750.00 for the first prize and R500,000 for the third prize.