Pagadian City sets week-long ‘Pasalamat Festival’ in time for city fiesta

During the 2013 Paalamat Festival (Photo File by JONG CADION)

By HIROHITO D. CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Jan. 9 (PNA) -- The city government has lined up different activities for the week-long event dubbed as “Pasalamat Festival” the highlight of which is this city’s fiesta that falls every third Sunday of January.

The festival will kick-off January 13 with a series of activities showcasing the culture and tradition of this city’s tri-peoples--the Christians, Muslims and Subanens--to enliven the spirits of Sto. Niño devotees.

The festival culminates on the third Sunday of this month, which is this city’s fiesta.

Vice Mayor Divina Grace Yu, who chairs the Pasalamat Festival 2014, said the activities will kick-off January 13 with an agro-trade fair at Plaza Luz to be spearheaded by the City Agriculture Office.

Yu said the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will hold a Jobs Fair the following day, January 14. 

The Jobs Fairs will be participated in by local and overseas employment agencies, according to Yu.

There will be also be sea games like swimming and others as well as fluvial parade. A variety show will be held nightly at the Plaza Luz’ Taclobo Stage, which is just in front of the city hall.

Mayor Romeo Pulmones has issued Executive Order No. 57 ordering this city’s 54 barangays to participate in all of the activities and to appropriate counterpart funds to ensure the success of the various events.

“The essence of being participative in all activities of the city government is the key to establish better relationships between the barangay and local government officials,” Pulmones said.

He said the city government has earmarked P1 million to be given as prizes to the winners of the street dance competition, which will be held January 17.

Pulmones said the competition, which will be participated in by 15 schools, will have two categories namely “the ritual” and “street dance.”

The prizes for the ritual category will be as follows: first place, P200,000; second place, P150,000; and, third place, P100,000.

In the street dance category, the prizes are: first place, P100,000; second place, P75,000; and third place, P50,000. The non-winning contingent will receive P50,000 consolation prize.

Pulmones noted the street dance competition is one event during the festival that draws thousands of spectators and enthusiasts.

A fluvial parade of devotees carrying different sizes of this city’s patron saint, Sto. Niño, will be held on January 18. It will be preceded by a concelebrated mass at the local wharf.

Capping the week-long festival is a Holy Mass and other religious activities on January 19, the feast day of this city. (PNA)
LAP/TPGJR/Hirohito D. Cadion/pjn