By Robbie Pangilinan
This June, head on to Tacloban City for the brightest festival in the Philippines with the happiest people in the world.
Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez invites everyone to join the month-long fiesta celebration in honor of the city’s patron saint, Señor Santo Niño de Tacloban.
“We want to showcase that Tacloban is the ‘Home of the Happiest People in the World.’ We invite you to celebrate with us in our daily fiesta activities like Sangyaw main event, cultural night, Sangyaw sports, and Sangyawan musical festival,” says Mayor Cristina.
The annual festival kicked off as the month of June began with a sports fest – the 6th Sangyaw Frisbee Competition and National Darts Competition on June 8 to 10 and Sangyaw Mini X Games competition and Battle of Kankabato: 1st Sangyaw Airsoft Tournament on June 9 to 10. The 65th Charter Day celebration was held at Plaza Rizal on June 12.
Upcoming events include nightly cultural presentations from June 15 to 28 at Plaza Rizal, featuring the Samleyaw Dance Company, STEFTI Dance Troupe, Leyte Dance Theater, the UP Madrigals, among others. Another social nights are set for Leyte Normal University and other colleges, universities, and government line agencies in Tacloban.
The Pre-Balyuan Rites and the Balyuan Rites will be held on June 18 and 20 at Balyuan Grounds; Miss Tacloban 2018 pageant on June 22 at the Tacloban Convention Center; Sangyaw Queen competition on June 24 at Robinson’s North Abucay; “Ginoong Sangyaw 2018” on June 25 at Robinsons North in Abucay; and the national bodybuilding competition “Mr. Sangyaw Tacloban 2018” on June 28 at Robinsons North.
A series of sports competitions are also lined up: the 2018 Jet Ski Tacloban Race on June 15 to 16 at Balyuan area; 1st Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez Regional Chess Tournament on June 16 to 17 at Robinson’s North; 2nd Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez Pedicab Race on June 17 at Kanhuraw Hill Grounds and Magsaysay boulevard area; 2nd Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez Cup, National Sepak Takraw Tournament 2018 on June 21 to 24 at the City Engineering office gymnasium and Robinson’s North; 10th Mayor Cristina Cancabato Bay Fishermen’s sports competition on June 22 at Balyuan Grounds; and the Sangyaw Adventure Race on June 23 to 24 around the city.
The Sangyaw Awards on June 26 will recognize the city’s local personalities who have excelled in their respective fields while June 27 is the city’s balikbayan night.
The most awaited Sangyaw Festival of Lights will be held on June 29 with a grand parade around the city. Manila-based bands like Siakol, Rogue, Wolfgang, Baste Artadi, Shamrock, Tanya Markova, Ipots, Franco, Itchyworms, Better days, Ex-Batallion, Day break, Mayonaise, Kjwan, Sofia Romualdez, Cueshe, Mulatto Band, and Freestyle, will jam with the Taclobanons at the Sangyawan Music Festival at Balyuan grounds.
Local bands True Signs, Less Tunes, Reggae Rebels, Sammoan, Succubus, Grey, Yufanik Chemistry, Little Haidee, MCI Acoustic, The Girls, Rondayan, NRS, Grey, Project x, Isotones, Powerpopcorn, LSR/PSP, Hushthugs, BTW, Street Jams, Yssabelle, Trianggulo, WKL, Anteepara, Lingerie, Rootgrass, The Millenials, Stacato, Rex Makabenta, Bjean, Karen & Jhon, Trios, Tons of Tones, Route 99, Rendezvous, Soundbox, Replica, Princess Fiona, Bluestrings, Redemption, Triosa, Zonic fumes, curve sign, G.A.S, Mad Clown, Aurora, 21st anniversary and Guli-at kankabato bands and visual will also perform.
A pontifical Mass and a battle of the bands will be held on June 30
to close the month-long celebration. #
