CABANATUAN CITY -- The weekend is full of colors and festivities as SM Cabanatuan held successfully Harvest Festival 2019 eyed as Nueva Ecija's next tourism attraction.
The event aims to gather local festivities in the province's five cities and 27 municipalities in one big festival.
The harvest festival was held on September 28 and 29 at SM Megacenter and SM City Cabanatuan, respectively.
On Saturday, the town of Zaragoza bags the 1st Place in Festival Costume Competition defeating 10 other competitors.
A lass in gown made of abaca with bundle palay and rice grains representing the local government unit of Zaragoza was created by a local designer Enoc Aliga.
Carolyn Licup, assistant mall manager, said best designers from cities and municipalities in the province presented their works to promote tourism and the so-called "One Town, One Product" (Otop) of each local government unit.
"The ladies ramped with gowns made of local and indigenous materials that popular and can be found in their presented towns," Licup said.
On Sunday, the town of Pantabangan emerged as champion on Street Dance Competition among other five groups. Wearing vibrant colorful costumes and props, the dancers from Barangay Malbang gave their best dancing stint and happy faces during the competition.
Jay Ar Padilla, assistant mall manager, said SM is really working hard to make the project the next attraction in the coming years.
"Nueva Ecija is a huge province and each cities and municipalities has its own unique culture, talent and creativity that we think is world class that can be properly gathered in one big celebration and promoted as a destination for local and international tourist every September," said Padilla.
The event was internationally awarded at Stevie Awards in Singapore last year.
"We are encouraging more participants next year with the support of their local government units because as we work together everything is possible," Padilla added.
The event was graced by Armando Giron, a tourism advocate and former vice chairman of Nueva Ecija Council for History, Culture and the Arts, Department of Trade and Industry provincial director Bridiga Pili and tourism officers in Nueva Ecija. (PR)