Wow Zamboanga reels off

THE Paseo del Mar, a landmark located at the back of Fort Pilar, is the center of attraction every night as cultural presentations featuring Zamboanga City’s 98 villages went full blast.

Dubbed as “Wow Zamboanga,” the nightly cultural presentation, which kicked off on Monday, is intended to showcase Zamboanga City’s multi-cultural heritage.

It is part of the City Government-initiated activities for the Fiesta Hermosa 2012 held in honor of the Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar, the city’s most revered patron saint.

The festival is themed “Fiesta Hermosa...Mas Alegre na Zamboanga (It’s more fun in Zamboanga)!”

Mayor Celso Lobregat, together with councilors Miguel Alavar, Rodolfo Lim, Percival Ramos, Benjamin Guingona III, Myra Paz Abubakar and Eduardo Saavedra, graced the opening salvo of Wow Zamboanga on Monday night.

The Cluster 8 composed of 16 barangays from the east coast was the first group to go on stage on Monday.

The different songs and dances featured during the presentation spoke of the colorful and rich history of Zamboanga City.

The villages under cluster 8 are Putik, Lunzuran, Guiwan, Tetuan, Tugbungan, Talon-Talon, Mampang, Arena Blanco, Sta. Catalina, Divisoria, Lumbangan, Lumayang, Boalan, Culianan, Zambowood and Kasanyangan.

Tuesday night was the turn of cluster 1, which is composed of far-flung villages from the west coast such as Limpapa, Labuan, Patalon, Sinubong, Dulian-Upper Pasonanca, La Paz, Tulungatung, Pamucutan and Baluno.

Wednesday night was be the turn of Cluster VI, composed of far-flung villages from the east coast that include Curuan, Quiniput, Dita, Lubigan, Panubigan, Bungiao, Dulian-Upper Bungiao, Landang Laum, Landang Gua, Lamisahan, Victoria, Tolosa, Pasilmanta and Busay.

On Thursday, it will be the turn of Cluster IV, which is composed of Pasonanca, Tumaga, Sta. Maria, Zone 1, Zone II, Zone III, Zone IV, Mariki, Rio Hondo and Sta. Barbara.

Meanwhile, the Cluster II will present its cultural show on October 5.

Cluster II is composed of the villages of Ayala, Cawit, Maasin, Malagutay, Cabatangan, Sinunuc, Recodo, Tallisayan and Capisan.

Cluster III (Calarian, San Roque, San Jose Cawa-Cawa, Campo Islam, Baliwasan, Canelar, St. Niño and Camino Nuevo) will perform on October 6.

Cluster VII (Cacao, Lanzones, Mercedes, Taluksangay, Talabaan, Guisao, Bolong, Sangali, Cabaluay, Manicahan, Pasobolong, Salaan, Manalipa, Tictabon, Pangapuyan, Tumalutab and Lapakan) will present on October 7.

Cluster V (Licomo, Tictapul, Limaong, Vitali, Mangusu, Ticbalabag, Tagasilay, Sibulao, Muti, Buenavista, Calabasa, Latuan, Taguiti and Tumitus) will also present its cultural show on October 8.

Lobregat thanked the different villages for their support and cooperation in the conduct of Wow Zamboanga and urged the village folks to join and participate in the other activities lined up for the fiesta celebration. (Bong Garcia)