THE Zamboanga Hermosa Festival will conclude its series of socio-cultural activities with three culminating events a day before the Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar.
City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the Zamboanga Hermosa Streetdance Competition, Fiesta Main Program, and the Parade of Lights will all take center stage Friday, October 11, as the final salvo of the two-week celebration of the 2019 Hermosa Festival.
Salazar said that chairman and general manager of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Rolando Macasaet, a Zamboangueño, will be the keynote speaker of this year’s Hermosa Festival Main Program, which is scheduled immediately after the Streetdance Competition at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex.
She said the Zamboanga Hermosa Streetdance Competition will kick off the day’s celebrations, starting at 8 a.m. from the City Hall grounds to the sports complex.
A total of 15 entries will be participating in this year’s competition, with three entries for the elementary Hermosa-based category, three for high school Hermosa-based category, three for open Hermosa-based category, and six for the regional open category.
Meanwhile, Salazar said the Parade of Lights float competition will take to the streets in the evening.
She said colorfully lit floats depicting known icons and sights of Zamboanga City will start flowing down the streets of Normal Road, San Jose to City Hall starting at 6 p.m.
On Saturday, October 12, the Feast Day of Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar, will be a special non-working holiday in Zamboanga City pursuant to Republic Act 7350 of April 2, 1992.
Meanwhile, Salazar has declared suspension of work in the city government as well as classes in all levels in this city on Friday in support of the activities.
The declaration is contained in Executive Order 510 issued Thursday, October 10, and based on consultations with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), City Legal Office and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer Dr. Elmeir Apolinario.
Salazar said not included in her declaration of work suspension are national government agencies, Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) and other institutions as they are not under the jurisdiction of the local government unit.
Exempted from the work suspension in the city government are city officials and employees whose services are required or indispensable during the celebration of the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival, according to Salazar.
She said the issuance of the E.O. is pursuant to the General Welfare Clause of the Local Government Code, which mandates local government units to ensure, among others, the preservation and enrichment of culture. (SunStar Zamboanga)