Guagua holds first Ukelele Festival
GUAGUA— The local government, through its Municipal Tourism Office, recently organized its first ever Ukelele Festival, as part of the activities for the 428th Aldo ning Balen Guagua.
Mayor Dante Torres said the activity primarily aims to highlight the town, specifically barangay San Anton, as the “Guitar Capital of the Phi l i ppi nes.”
“Through this festival, we want more people to know about our industry here. At the same time, we want to enhance our products to make them more worldclass and of export quality,” he added.
Torres shared that the guitar industry in Barangay San Anton has been the lifeblood of many families for many generations, making it the village’s one town, one product.
“Since this has become the source of livelihood for many families, we aim to advertise their products for free through this festival.
To make them more appealing to potential buyers, we are also eyeing on innovating them by painting or designing these ukeleles,” the mayor expl ai ned.
The local chief executive furthered that through this festival, he hopes to come up with standardized pricing for all ukelele and guitar stores in the town, as well as have a shared facility wherein interested ukelele makers may mass produce and exhibit their products.
“Aside from giving them access to market, we also want to aid the guitar makers financially by linking them to various financing institutions and banks where they can get loans for additional capital,” Torres said.
This year’s Aldo Ning Balen Guagua bears the theme “Re-Awakening Consciousness Towards Reminiscence of the Town’s History, Strengthening People’s Unity, Marching and Progressing towards the Destined Journey”.
— Marie Joy L. Simpao/ PIA-3