ALL ROADS LEAD to Zamboanga City as the local government officially launched the “Zamboanga Hermosa Festival 2019” – the grandest and most awaited and popular festival in Western Mindanao.
The month-long festival is held in honor of the miraculous image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar – the patroness of Zamboanga City and Zaragoza in Spain, the sister city of Zamboanga – which is held in every 12th of October.
With the theme “Diversidad, Resiliencia y Alegria,” Mayor Beng Climaco along with Councilors Crisanto dela Cruz, John Dalipe, Jimmy Villaflores and Vincent Paul Elgo, led the opening of the festival with a grand show of colors, music and dances as a prelude to the myriad of activities that will take place in October.
“The festival is a celebration of culture, history and faith of the Zamboangueños,” said Climaco as she invited everyone around the globe to come and celebrate the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival and experience and explore the many potentials of the city.
The Zamboanga Hermosa Festival features many activities such as the colorful street dance competition where different schools fight for the title – from the street to the main event – which everyone will show their best talent.
The joyous celebration usually draws thousands of local and foreign tourists to the “City of Flowers” to participate in the event.
Among them is the Regatta de Zamboanga or vinta (sail boat) racing and the colorful street dancing. Another event, the “Mascota de Zamboanga” which showcase the talents, craftsmanship and creativity of Zamboangueño fashion designers in creating traditional wardrobe used during the Spanish era.
During the festival, hundreds of stalls are put up by travelling merchants from Luzon and Visayas to showcase their products in an open bazaar. Regional trade exposition is also being held during the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival.
In the past festival, a beauty pageant and parade of lights, including the Chavacano Video Music Festival and a dance party, Danza La Vida, highlighted the event.
Residents also feasted on grilled foods held nightly as part of the “Zamboanga Smoke Out – Grilled Food Fiesta” by the seaside. The festival also features week-long novena masses, cultural shows, agricultural fairs, art, photo and flower garden exhibits, torch parades, fireworks, and carnivals.
Zamboanga City had been under Spanish rule in the past and was also used as a base for American soldiers. The area around Zamboanga Peninsula has been occupied by indigenous people as early as 30,000 years ago. The first inhabitants were the Subanons and Lutaos and later, the Islamized ethnic groups of Samals, Bajaus, Tausugs, and Yakans.
The official festival logo and soundtrack “Vene ya na Zamboanga,” (Ven a Zamboanga) the calendar of activities, guidelines of the different competitions and festival merchandises, among others were also unveiled during the launching held at the Marcian Garden Hotel and attended by more than 300 people.
It also saw the unveiling of the Zambo Hermosa App, an online platform for local tourism, events, foods and places and a collaboration of the Hermosa App NGO group and the City Government. The app is downloadable online where one can get access to the services of the City Tourism Office, get updates on the activities of the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival as well as access to tourism products and services offered by the locals.
Christian Olasiman, head of the City Government’s Special Events Team, said the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival celebration will center on three distinct, yet very important core values that defined the bedrock of the Zamboangueño communities and their continued resurgence as a people – Diversidad, Resiliencia y Alegria or Diversity, Resilience and Joy. (Zamboanga Post)
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