There’s more to festival than lechon, says Gullas

A LOOKALIKE Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has helped the Lawaan National High School win in the 12th Halad Inasal Festival yesterday afternoon.

At the start of their presentation, the lookalike of Gwen reenacted the formal opening of the new Talisay City Hall.

Then her lookalike came to the stage and started imitating her.

Garcia, Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas, her brother and Cebu gubernatorial candidate Pablo John Garcia and his running mate Ramon “Buboy” Durano IV were amused by the presentation.

Marvie Caño, the winning contingent’s choreographer, told reporters that looking for a lookalike of Garcia took time.

Caño said their winning performance was a result of months of practice, which began during the opening of classes last June.

Caño said that as early as June, their dancers were doing their choreography during their music, arts and physical education classes.

Aside from bagging the top prize in the ritual showdown category, the school also won the awards for best decorated audiovan and best in street dancing.

The Sisters of Mary School-Girlstown (SMS-G), an all-girls school located in Barangay Poblacion, bagged the second spot in the Halad Inasal Festival yesterday.

The SMS-G was the defending champion for the ritual showdown, street dancing and best audiovan categories.

The Divino Amore Academy in Barangay Mohon won third place for the ritual showdown category.

Despite placing last in the top three winners for the ritual showdown category, the school gained the top spot after one of its students, Criestly Moso, was crowned this year’s Festival Queen.

The Talisay City Central School won the top prize for the best Andas category. The Talisay City National High School won best in costume.

In his opening speech, Gullas said the Halad Inasal Festival began when he became Talisay City’s first mayor in 2001.

He said Talisay City should not only offer lechon but also talents.

Garcia said she was impressed with this year’s Halad Inasal Festival because of the supportive crowd.

“Of all the festivals that I have attended in Cebu, Halad Inasal has the best audience in the entire province,” Garcia said.

Edgardo Mabunay, city tourism officer and Halad Inasal Festival over-all organizer, told reporters this year’s festival is more improved.

Mabunay said the City Government spent close to a million pesos for the entire festival.