The Municipal Government of Guiguinto, Bulacan celebrates its 21st “Halamanan Festival 2019.”
Local residents represented each barangay dressed in fairy-tale-like costumes and danced in the “Indakan sa Kalye” together with local officials headed by Mayor Ambrosio “Boy” Cruz Jr. during the opening ceremony of the annual celebration of the town’s patron Saint San Ildefonso feast day on Saturday.
Cruz said the festival launched 21 years ago, is now a crowd-drawing attraction akin to the Panagbenga Festival in Baguio, Sinulog Festival in Cebu, Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo and other Philippine Islands festivals.
Bulacan officials also graced the event headed by Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, Vice Governor Daniel Fernando and 2nd District Congressman Apol Pancho as they lauded the year’s Halamanan Festival as it recognized more not only in the province but also in other local government units in the country.
Halamanan Festival 2019. (Photos source from Guiguinto Mayor’s FB account)
He said “Halamanan Festival” showcases the town’s major industry—it’s ornamental garden plants and landscape industry.
“Our garden and landscape industry is now being recognized not only in many parts of the country but in other countries as well. We want to showcase the craftsmanship of our skilled gardeners and landscapers in the annual Halamanan Festival which kicks off on the feast day of our patron Saint San Ildefonso, the saint of framers,” Cruz said.
He said 14 barangays are participating in the annual festival which kicks off with the fairytale mode street dance parade wherein the road stretch from Barangay Cruz to Barangay Tabang were closed to all kind of vehicles to give way to the 14 participants for the “Indakan sa Kalye” competition.
The weeklong celebration will culminate on January 23 with the parade of garden landscapegiant floats and musical treats with spectacular fireworks.
“Halamanan Festival has gone a long, long way and has now become one of the crowd-drawing attraction in Bulacan,” Cruz added.
Alvarado commended Mayor Cruz and Guiguinto for the success of Halamanan Festival saying the annual event has made Guiguinto one of the major tourist destination in Bulacan.