TACLOBAN CITY- This city is all ready to welcome its guests that will be coming to witness the pomp and pageantry as it celebrates its 130th annual city fiesta in honor of Senior Santo Niño.
The month-long activities will be encapsulated under its banner program, Sangyaw Festival which kicked off with a media conference for this year’s Miss Tacloban candidates in the morning of June 1.
A motorcade was held in the afternoon of same day capped with a concert held at the Sangyawan Concert grounds located at the Balyu-an grounds.
At the grand opening of the Sangyawan Music Festival, it featured local bands, highlighted by the Razorback.
A nightly shows and concerts will be shown at Sangyawan Music Festival with the likes of Tanya Marka Nova, Loyd Umali and Emma Castro, Rocksteddy, Rouge Band, Mayonaise, Ney Dimaculangan, Letter Day Story, Junkies Band, Kjwan, I Love Tacloban Band, Parokya ni Edgar, Doble Kara, Dance Duo, Dance Fusion, Lets Duet, and Jay-R with Sofia G. Romualdez on June 29 and Cueshe, among others.
City Tourism Office consultant Norma Morantte said that the city government under Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez administration joins the people of Tacloban, Sto. Nino Parish Church, Sangyaw Foundation Inc. (SFI) and its stakeholders to Sangyaw or announce the fiesta celebration of Sr. Sto. Nino and the month-long city Sangyaw festivities.
According to SFI president Felix Barreon, the festivities has three categories of events to cater all sectors of the community namely the religious, cultural, sports and main events.
Meanwhile, Taclobanon’s cultural talent of various artists says Sangyaw co-chair Carlos Castillo, will be shown nightly starting June 14 (Grand Opening of the SANGYAW Cultural Night).
The cultural night at Plaza Rizal will feature St. Paul’s College, Samleyaw Dance Company, STEFTI Night, Jude Basio Opana, EVSU, I Live Tacloban Youth, Point Dance Company, Reo Brothers with the Blast Riders, Erwin Ripalda Co., DepEd Tacloban City Division, Organico, Leyte Dance Theater and Cherry Mobile to include Sangyawan Han Isla Sinirangan (Art show & festival costume competition).
Sangyaw Sports events includes local and international sports such as: Mayor Cristina Sports Clinic, Sangyaw National Table Tennis Tournament, Basketball, Beach Volleyball Tournament, Sangyaw Ultimate Frisbee, Sangyaw Mini X Games, Mayor Cristina Regional Open Chess Tournament, 11th Cancabato Sports Competition, 3rd Mayor Cristina National Sepak Takraw Tournament, Sangyaw Adventure Race, Mayor Cristina Pedicab Race, Idadait & Laro ng Lahi, 7th Mr. Sangyaw Tacloban 2019 (Body Building Competition) and the International JETSKI competition on June 13-15 at Patio Victoria.
Religious events in honor of Tacloban’s patron Sto. Nino de Tacloban starts with the pre-Balyuan of images on June 18 and Balyuan Rites on June 20, also the start of the 1st day Sto. Nino novena. The pontifical masses on the feast day, fluvial procession and Land procession.
The festivities also includes prestigious beauty pageant search, the Ms. Tacloban 2019 Coronation on June 22, the 3rd Ms. Sangyaw Queen on June 26.
To honor Taclobanons living outside the country, the Balik Tacloban Night will be held on June 26 with the Reo Brothers as guest performer will entertain them.
Sangyaw Tacloban Festivities will be highlighted by the Sangyaw Festival of Lights on June 29. Mayor Cristina invites all Taclobanons, neighboring places and the whole world to come watch and see the Sangyaw Festival of Lights.
With its theme: Happiest Fiesta with the Happiest people of the world. Tacloban is very much alive this whole month of June, the home of the happiest people in deed.
Sangyaw Festival is a collaborative effort of the city government of Tacloban in cooperation with the Sangyaw Foundation Inc. (SFI), the Sto. Nino Parish Church and its stakeholders.
(GAY B.GASPAY/TISAT)