Ormoc gets into fiesta mood

ORMOC CITY – Mayor Richard Gomez has kicked off activities leading up to this year's fiesta.

Gomez opened the Ormoc City AgriAgro fair at the Ormoc Public Plaza and the holding of the Parade of Lights.

Gomez said he will make this year's fiesta more special since he will be marking his first year as mayor June 30.

He said the highlight of the celebration is the holding of the Piña Festival on June 25.

Gomez said the city government, after consulting tourism and heritage experts, saw the need to revive the festival to further build up the identity of the city.

"The Piña festival seeks to promote not only Ormoc's very own sweet queen pineapple but will manifest the Ormocanons’ beautiful and sunshine nature," said Estrella Maria-Serafica-Pangilian, chairman of the Ormoc Festival and Cultural Foundation.

On June 28, 20 local beauties will vie in the Miss Ormoc 2017 contest for the crown and the right to represent the city in the Miss Tourism Philippines pageant.

Palo Archbishop John F. Du will be the main celebrant in the June 29 Pontifical concelebrated mass at the Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church.

Joining Gomez at the kick-off ceremonies were Pocholo Franco, chairman of the Ormoc City Tourism Council; Councilor Nolito Quilang, co-chair of the fiesta execom and chairman for sectoral events; Peter Rodriguez, fiesta execom chairman; Jude Abenoja, Ormoc Chamber president and Resource Generation chairman; Dr. Sandra F. Chiong, Rotary Club of Ormoc president and chairman of the Bb. Ormoc Pageant Committee; Aileen Suarez-Aviles, 3rd Lake Danao Festival chairman; and Nelson Alindogan, Ormoc City tourism officer.