TACLOBAN City is set to glow in colorful lights again, as 11 floats, intricately designed with colored lights plus gleeful dancers in stylish costumes, will parade at the city’s downtown area starting 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29.
Dubbed as “Parade of Lights,” the event is a major highlight in the annual Sangyaw Festival of the city that showcases the artistry and culture of the residents and participating contingents as far as Catbalogan City in Samar, Maguindanao, and Sultan Kudarat in Mindanao.
The 11 contingents are from city schools, barangay, and community-based dance groups, said Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez.
She invited the public to join in the festivity.
The float entries are Danhani (Eastern Visayas State University), Celebrate Fiesta (Catbalogan City), Finding of Sto. Niño de Tacloban (Tacloban Angelicum Learning Center), L’MBA (Maguindanao), Balanghay (SJCS), Bahandi (Barangay 83 Paraiso), Mandaragat (Barangay 2 Jones), Fiesta Bayanihan (Barangay 42-A Quarry District), Kumpit Sa Sultan Kudarat (Sultan Kudarat), Fiesta Sarimanok (Barangay 35-A Pampango) and Fluvial Procession in Kankabatok (Barangay 49 Hillside Youngfield).
The dance contingents include Tribu Danhani of Eastern Visayas State University, Tribu Tarakloban of San Jose National High School, Manarabo Festival of Hinabangan Western Samar, Tribu Manhuhurip of Barangay 84 Manlurip San Jose, Tribu San Jose of the San Jose Central School, Tribu Bakhawan of Barangay 83 Paraiso, Tribu Mandaragat of Barangay 2 Jones, Kasirangan Tribe of Barangay 42 Quarry District, Tribu Maglalara of Basey, Samar, Tribu Kalusayan of Barangay 35-A Pampango and Tribu Nagkaurusa of Barangay 49 Hillside, Youngfield.
Henry James Roca, of the City Information Office, said civic parade by 20 groups of merrymakers will be held at 3 p.m. before the start of the “Parade of Lights.”
The parade will pass through the following streets: Justice Romualdez, Rizal Avenue, Imelda Veteranos, Real Street and end at Magsaysay Boulevard.
Medics from the Bureau of Fire Protection, Tacloban City Rescue Unit, and Green Volunteers will be stationed in key areas of the parade route to provide emergency medical services, Roca said.
Tacloban City Police Office Public Information Officer Police Captain Marjorie Manuta said about 500 uniformed police personnel will be deployed in key areas around the city on June 29 and 30, the fiesta day in honor of the city’s patron saint Senor Sto. Niño.
This is part of the security plan prepared by the local police office for the Sangyaw festivities to provide security during the celebration of the Sangyaw Festival, the police official said.
The Philippine Army and the Regional Mobile Force Batralion of the Police Regional Office will also act as augmentation force during the events.
In a statement, Manuta also advised revelers who will join the festivities not to wear jewelry so as not to attract the attention of criminal elements.
As part of the security preparations on June 29, the following roads will be closed to vehicular traffic at noontime:
Esperas Avenue, Real – Lukban (San Fernando), Paterno Sta. Cruz, Transmitter Road, Cor. Rizal and Avenida Veteranos (H Q-Petron), Sabang District, Corner Salazar - Sta. Cruz, the road fronting the Leyte Progressive High School, Naga-naga Road, Corner Congressman Artemio Mate, and Apitong Junction.
Traffic will be manned by the combined forces of the Traffic Operations Management, Enforcement and Contol Office and the Tacloban police, according to Manuta.
The city police will also operate mobile patrol units and 12 assistance desks in Plaza Rizal, Eye Referral Center, Savemore, Macdonalds, Burgos - Torres, Abucay New Bus Terminal, Marasbaras New Transport Terminal, Robinsons Marasbaras, Leyte Progressive, Corner Rizal and Imelda Avenue, LVD and Leyte National High School to monitor the situation during the Sangyaw Festival.
For emergency service, visitors and locals can report any crime incident to their Hotline Numbers: 0917-631-7752 (Globe) and 0998-991-3699 (Smart). (SunStar Philippines)