THE 25th edition of Murcia town’s Tinabu-ay Festival dubbed as “Tindabu-ay 2021” and reputed to be one of the grandest harvest festivals on this side of Negros Island, was launched on Friday, December 3, 2021.
“In spite of the pandemic, we have to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Tinabu-ay Festival. Even in just this simple way, we must celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the patroness of our parish and town,” Mayor Gerry Rojas said during the festival’s launch and the opening of the Tindabu-ay Farmers and Producers Trade Fair at the Murcia Plaza Covered Court.
Vice Mayor Johnny Reosura, Sangguniang Bayan members, barangay captains and department heads also joined the activity.
Murcia First Lady Berni Rubin-Rojas explained that from the original term “Tinabu-ay,” the town officials modified the festival’s name to “Tindabu-ay” in 2020.
Tindabu-ay is a play on the words “tinda” which means “sell or market” and “tinabu-ay” which means “to meet or gather,” she said.
She added that the Tindabu-ay Trade Fair is not merely an activity to honor our farmers, but it is also a venue to help our farmers sell their products during the pandemic.
She said, “without our farmers, all of us would not have any food to eat during the pandemic and up to now.”
She also congratulated Rudy Reveche, whom she credited as the father of the Tinabu-ay Festival, for the festival’s success for the past 25 years.
“I take this opportunity to thank our frontliners, health workers, IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force), barangay captains, kagawads and staff, volunteers, police and military, civic groups, private companies, and all the people who have supported us since the start of this pandemic, and particularly during the three-days national vaccination drive last November 29 to December 1,” Rojas said.
“Though we fell a bit short of our target of 16,000 residents to be vaccinated in those three days, Murcia registered the highest number of persons vaccinated among all local government units in the province,” he said.
“Almost 40,000 Murciahanons are now vaccinated out of our about 58,000 population, and I hope we can vaccinate almost all Murciahanons by the first quarter of next year,” the mayor added.
This year’s staging of the activity is more subdued compared to those of the previous pre-pandemic celebrations, the municipal government said.
The launch started with a First Friday Mass at the Immaculate Conception Parish Church, a short caravan around the town, and the opening of Tindabu-ay Trade Fair running until December 19.
On the night of December 3, Rojas and other town officials led the switch-on ceremony for the Christmas lights at the public plaza and the municipal building.
The town also hosted the 1st Mayor Gerry Rojas Mursikleta (Murcia Bisekleta) Fun Ride last December 4, in line with its reputation as the acknowledged prime bikers’ destination, as well as the gateway to bikers’ adventures.
Other activities include the Pintabu-ay Contest on December 6.
During the day of the fiesta on December 8, there will be “Karera de Sintas” and the Tinabu-ay Festival 25th Anniversary Documentary presentation to be virtually presented through Mayor Gerry M. Rojas Facebook Page. (PR)