PHNO-SB: TACLOBAN PARADE OF LIGHTS BRIGHTENS 'SANGYAW FESTIVAL'

TACLOBAN PARADE OF LIGHTS BRIGHTENS 'SANGYAW
FESTIVAL'

TACLOBAN CITY, JUNE 29, 2012 (MALAYA)
Written by ROBBIE PANGILINAN - The Sangyaw Festival, revived four years ago
by Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez and first lady Councilor Cristina
Gonzales-Romualdez (photo), will be an extraordinary festival this June,
with a parade of lights unlike any other ever done in the country.
The Tacloban City government will showcase 20 floats using LED (light
emission diode), the energy-saver and cost-efficient light, on June 29 as the
highlight of the annual Sangyaw Festival.
"This has never been done in other places of the country. We will do this in
Tacloban to mark a distinction for our city," said Gonzales-Romualdez, the
chairman of the Committee on Tourism, adding that the innovative parade of
lights also aims to put an end to the comparison between Sangyaw and Pintados.


[Photo -Tacloban City Mayor Alfred and his wife Cristina]
The Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals replaced the Sangyaw Festival
from 1987 to 2007. The Sangyaw, which means "to herald good news," has been a
trademark of the City of Tacloban since it was first held in 1947. A brainchild
of Leyte native, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, the Sangyaw Festival died
along with the Marcos administration in 1986. The Pintados Festival, organized
by a non-government organization, replaced Sangyaw and is still recognized by
the Department of Tourism today.
Since the Romualdezes revived the Sangyaw Festival in 2008, it has been
compared with and even called copycat not only to Pintados but to other
festivals in other places of the country. That is why this year, Councilor
Romualdez thought of doing something new.
Designed by a Manila-based float expert, the 20 floats will feature Tacloban
City's history, religiosity, flora and fauna and recent city developments. The
major floats will depict five important historical events in the region: the
pre-Spanish colonization era, the discovery of the Philippines by Ferdinand
Magellan, the landing of McArthur, the construction of the San Juanico Bridge
and the conversion of Tacloban into a highly-urbanized city.
Event creative consultant Gogoy Avelino described the floats as those
seen in Disneyland during the '80s, but more advanced because they are
three-dimensional. There will be dancers on each float wearing Latin-inspired
costumes to give out an ambience of a carnival. Salsa and rumba music will be
used in the parade to make the event lively and entice everyone to participate.

According to Romualdez, the use of lights in the parade is symbolic.
"Our purpose is to promote the city, for it to standout as the light in
Region 8, symbolizing Tacloban's status as the most progressive city in the
region and the center of commerce and education," says the an
actress-turned-public servant.
She hopes that the parade of lights will be a welcome change in and
worthwhile part of the festival, drawing in tourists from all over.
"The lights not only symbolize that we are the light. It's a time to shine
and a symbolic sign of progress. It's a change, something new," ended the
councilor known as Kring-Kring in her showbiz days.
FOR MORE INFO AND PHOTOS GO TO: http://www.tacloban.gov.ph/



Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi

© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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