GUAGUA, Pampanga -- The founding day celebrations here highlighted the commercial and cultural importance of this commercial town through its various industries and crafts.

Mayor Dante Torres said the 428th Aldo ning Balen Wawa 2019 included events over the weekend that highlighted and promoted local industries.

Other events include Ukulele and guitar seminars and the much awaited Dukit Festival.

Torres said guitar-making has been a major craft for town for many years, with the industry in Barangay San Anton being the lifeblood of many families for many generations.

He added the industry here has been known for making the best guitars and ukuleles. In fact, Guagua guitars have found their way into the hands of local and international artists alike.

Torres said the industry needs further support now that handcrafted guitars face competition with mass produced brands from other countries.

He added that the yearly founding day events aim to highlight the industries to promote them to the current generation.

The Municipal Council passed Ordinance 10-S-2018, recognizing May 17, 1590 as the founding date of the town. Wawa, which means "river mouth" was the earliest recorded form of the town's name according to records dating back to 1590.

The town is strategically located along a river, which played a vital role in trade and transportation during the pre-colonial era. Wawa was already a prosperous settlement when Spanish colonists took control of the town in the year 1561, from then on calling it Guagua, which is a Hispanised form of the original name.

Torres said the celebration would draw the much-needed attention on the town's historic, cultural and economic importance in the overall fabric of Kapampangan identity.

He said the events for this year aim to draw attention to the town's industries and culture for the better appreciation of the younger generation of residents.