Huge turnout for Higantes Festival seen

The festival is the town’s thanksgiving in honor of its patron saint, Saint Clement, whose feast day will be on 22 and 23 November

The local government of Angono in Rizal announced that they are expecting to see an influx of tourists and locals that will be joining the Higantes Festival following the issuance of a presidential proclamation declaring 23 November 2023 as a special non-working holiday.

Angono Mayor Jeri Mae Calderon announced the news on her social media account.

Angono, referred to as the Art Capital of the Philippines, has been celebrating the annual Higantes Festival which has been drawing hundreds of thousands of foreign and local tourists wanting a glimpse of the parade of giant papierThe mâchés made by town-based artists.

For this year, Higantes Festival embarked on a month-long festivity which included trade exhibit, art shows, pageants, itik-cooking competition, battle of endurance, floating parade, water-dousing or basaan, treeplanting, and bike run among many others starting October until 23 November.

With the expected huge crowd this year, the local government has also started implementing measures to ensure the safety of tourists, visitors, and residents in time for the town’s most colorful and lively festival.

Calderon ordered local authorities to prepare for the celebration including the grand parade of the town’s “giants.”

For his part, Vice Mayor Gerardo Calderon called on the local government heads of offices, the police, rescue personnel, and barangay peace keepers to ensure that the celebration will be merry but safe and adherent to the health protocols set by the national government.

The festival is the town’s thanksgiving in honor of its patron saint, Saint Clement, whose feast day will be on 22 and 23 November.

PHOTOGRAPH BY YUMMIE DINGDING FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE @tribunephl_yumi STREET dwellers earn money by cleaning windshields of vehicles during a traffic jam along Araneta Avenue in Quezon City, although some are opting to shun these because it damages the windshield.