THE third Hundred Islands Paraw Festival highlighted the culture and heritage of Alaminos City in Pangasinan.
Over 100 paraws (sailboats) raced at the Lucap wharf.
The festival, which was conceptualized three years ago, aimed to highlight the art of sailing non-motorized boats during the early years in the town of Alaminos, now a city.
The festival also highlights local fisher folk’s use of the paraw as a mode of transportation and vessel to catch fish to sell and bring home to their families.
Tourism officer Mike Sison said the festival is distinct and unique to Alaminos way of life.
Fisher folks still use the paraw but is customized with a five-horsepower engine to battle strong winds when needed.
The paraws sail at the backdrop of the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP), a haven for tourists marveling at the now officially declared 123 cluster of islands.
The HINP has also become a pilgrimage for the religious. It has a 56-feet sculpture of the Christ the Savior and life-sized images of the Last Supper made by local artist, Sariel Ancheta.
The island will soon have a chapel, a statue of Saint Joseph the carpenter and Saint Claire’s garden flanked by fountains and flowing water to be opened before the start of the holy week in April.
The HINP was funded by the local government in 2016 and is now one of the most popular islands in the water park.
The City Tourism Office has recorded 8,000 tourist arrival in the island during peak days.