The Municipal Government of Bulakan, Bulacan celebrated the 13th Bulakan Festival dubbed as “Catorse De Noviembre”, the birth date of the young general of the Philippine Revolutionary Army Gregorio H. Del Pilar.
Local residents here represented their villages dressed in different and colorful costumes at the parade and street dance held on Wednesday.
Mayor Patrick Meneses
The one day celebration of Bulakan folks together with local officials here was graced by Bulacan First District Congressman Jonathan Sy-Alvarado and Mayor Patrick Meneses, Vice Mayor Bert Bituin , Councilor Piccolo Meneses and Mina Fermin of Alay Buhay Partylist who led the formal opening of the annual traditional festival.
The parade of 14 barangays proceeded at the shrine of Gen. Del Pilar also known as “Heneral Goyo”. A wreath laying ceremony later ensued.
Meneses said the festival was organized 13 years ago by his father former Mayor Ricky Meneses. The festival is now a major attraction akin to the Panagbenga Festival in Baguio, Sinulog Festival in Cebu, Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo and other Philippine Islands festivals.
He said “Catorse De Noviembre” showcases the barangays’ products and cultural heritages like dried and steam fishes, embroidery, farming and fishing industry.
Meneses added that 14 barangays are participating in the annual festival which kicked off with the street dancing dubbed as “Indakan sa Kalye” and a showdown competion at the culmination of the event.
The town village of San Francisco won the Championship award for the showdown competion receiving P50,000 cash prize while Barangay Bambang got P30,000 for 1st runner-up while Barangay Matungao pocketed the 2nd runner-up and P20,000 cash prize.
Barangay San Francisco also won the best in costume and best in street dancing. –ELOISA SILVERIO