On the morning of the grand opening parade of the two-week Jaro festivity is the feeding of some 300 malnourished children from different villages of the Jaro district. This was followed by the distribution of school supplies to the abovementioned feeding beneficiaries. An old tradition of the Jaro festivity wherein Maiki intends to restore.
The royal entourage gave joy to the children of Jaro during the queen's night, Friday, the day before the opening parade which led Makisig Morales, also known as Pare Bodong of the teleserye Super Inggo of ABS-CBN, as the final act of the event.
At 3 p.m. of Jan. 20, 2007, the grand opening parade showed off floats of more than 60 floats participated by various day care centers, senior citizens, police and village officials, teachers and students of the public and private schools, and private sector.
Thousands of Jaro residents and guests lined up the streets of Jaro to witness the Association of Barangay Captains' well-organized events, which also kicked off the 2007 Jaro Agro-Industrial and Charity Fair, led by the indefatigable ABC President Hon. Julieta D. Diamante.
Highlights of the parade are the floats of the Royal Court and Children's Fancy Dress Ball entourages.
Considered as a religious event to honor the Jaro patroness, the Nuestra Senora dela Candelaria, this year's queen Maiki Lopez Abello, is the grand daughter of Lopez Group Chair Oscar M. Lopez, of the Lopez clan from Jaro and La Paz district in Iloilo City.
Present at the grand parade grandstand were Oscar and Connie Lopez together with their children and grandchildren. And the Abello clan from Bacolod led by Maiki's grandparents Rafael and Maria Antonia Abello. The presences of the Lopez and Abello clans showed family, support, unity and solidarity for the Queen and her royal court.
Queen Maiki's consort is Juan Edgardo Roberto Jalandoni, whose grandfather was once a consort to one of the Jaro fiestas, came all the way from Manila to lend his support. He was accompanied by J. Amado Fores, who was consort to Princess Erika Antonia Lopez Abello, Maiki's sister. Another Abello, Jordan, from Bacolod was consort to Princess Marianna Carmela Isabel Lopez Vargas. Angel Ong's consort is Hero Falco, while Princess Camille Gallardo is Kouji Nakata.
Resplendent in a simple but elegant blue-green gown, the queen was touched by the warm reception by the crowd that in her message she remarked, "will allow my soul to grow so that this crown that you will soon place in my head will benefit from the tradition of temperance from my grandfather and the strength that is characteristic of the woman in my family."
Queen Maiki also stated, "Amid all these efforts to continue a tradition of loveliness, I find it is no easy task; this claim to beauty. It reaches deep inside and taps on the very nature of generosity and the essence of service that my great grandfather intended this crown to be."
She also stated that her one-year reign will be a continuation of the legacy of service that her family is noted for. There will be feeding programs, building of Gawad Kalinga houses, upliftment of the quality of family life, and support for sports activities for the youth. Queen Maiki, aside from being an environmentalist, is a varsity player in her school.
The Lopezes' floats were designed and constructed by ABS-CBN Regional Network Group, Princess Angel's is built by Mandy Salcedo and Alex Soncio for Princess Camille's.
The royal entourage will be crowned on the eve of Feb. 2, 2007 at Jaro gymnasium with Erik Santos to serenade the queen.
Gowns created by Jun Escario of Cebu, Mandy Salcedo and Alex Soncio will be worn during the event.
