Angeles City — Angeles City students costumed as messengers of God trooped in the colorful festival of patrons and guardian angels dubbed GraciAngeles on Sunday at The Park, Nepo Center here.
Tourism Officer John Montances said it is annually celebrated in the city every October in honor of Angeles City’s founder Don Angel Pantaleon De Miranda but was rescheduled this November to give way for the Association of SouthEast Asian Nations Summit 2017.
This year, six participating schools from the elementary and high school level competed in the interpretative and streetdance category. The theme is ‘Angels as Guardians of Peace and Goodness’.
Panel of judges are Bulacan Halamanan Festival concept director Rene Villanueva, National Commission for Culture and the Arts – National Committee on Dance secretary Rodal Mayor Fronda , and University of Luzon in Dagupan director for cultural affairs Restituto Fernandez.
Gueco Balibago Elementary School bagged the grand prize, best in decorum and best in streetdance awards; Achievers Special Education Center as second place with best in costume award and Cutcut Elementary School as third place.
For the high school level, Francisco G. Nepomuceno Memorial High School was hailed grand winner and best in streetdance; Republic of Central College on the second post , best in costume and best in decorum; and Angeles City National High School on the third place.
The winners have received plaque and cash prizes of 30,000 (grand prize), 20, 000 (2nd place), 10,000 (1st place) and 5,000 for the special awards.
Joining the judges in the awarding are Herminia Pamintuan, wife of Mayor Mayor Ed Pamintuan, Sinukwan Kapampangan Training Center for the Arts choreographer and director Peter De Vera, Newpoint Mall Marketing and Operations Manager Trixie Valdes and veteran broadcast journalist and environment advocate Cecile Yumul as the host. –Photos by Larrica Angela Cunanan