AS WE embrace a better normal in our community life, cultural celebrations are coming back with ease. This year’s Pyestang Fernandino in our beloved City of San Fernando showcases strong and active public and private involvement in most of its activities. Last May 20, we witnessed the fun and colorful Kalesa Day event in honor of one of our well-loved cultural icons, the Kalesa.
Capital Town Pampanga within the Heritage District hosted this year’s Kalesa Day, together with Smart Telecommunications. The Pyestang Fernandino Technical Committee this year, which is chaired by Engr. Michael Quizon Jr., highlighted a special day for our kalesas, including our kutseros and the horses. It can be noted that earlier this year, the City Government launched a program to help kutseros gain ownership of horses.
For this year’s Kalesa Day, a kalesa-décor competition was held and participated by different organizations and institutions in our City. Participants included the United Architects of the Philippines Cabalen, Sinukwan, and San Fernando Chapters, the Foundation for Lingap Kapampangan, Pampanga High School, Girl Scouts of the Philippines – Pampanga Council, Barangay San Pedro Cutud Youth Council, and the Muslim Community of San Fernando, which dressed up a total of 14 entries.
The entries were judged by a panel comprised of Ms. Ruby Gabriel of McDonalds, Mr. Rhon Poblete of Smart, and Dr. Lourdes Javier who chairs the CSFP Arts, Culture, and Tourism Council. Emerging as winners were the entries decorated by the San Pedro Youth Council in first place, followed by the FLKI and Muslim Community in second and third places, respectively.
A total of thirty kalesas from the CSFP Kalesa Association provided free kalesa tours within the Heritage District for the rest of the morning. Our kutseros also received snappy uniform sets in the form of matching vest, shirt, and mask from Smart Telecom and cash allowance from the City Government. Participating kutseros include Edgar Mercado, Russell Luzung, Carlos Pabalan, Sherlan Balatbat, Christoper Santos, Ricky Antonio, Arnold Manalo, Orlando Manalo, Michael Magtoto, Marvin Magtoto, Ruben Sigua, Nelson Roque, Rodel Ibay, Fernando Ocampo, Gio Quiambao, Benito David, William Kempis, Juan David, Decoroso Busa, Merwin David, Eric Ocampo, Marcelino Aquino, Rolan Santos, Romy Supan, Kurt Luzung, Jericho Magtoto, Mario Pamintuan, Fernando Mendoza, Louie Ocampo, Antonio Romero, and Mario Lingat, the oldest active kutsero in our city.
This event gained positive feedback from our community and we look forward to making it a regular part of our future Pyestang Fernandino events. This coming week, Capital Town will also be hosting the comeback of the annual Flores De Mayo in our city, in partnership with the Pyestang Fernandino Committee and the Arts, Culture, and Tourism Office of Pampanga.
Special thanks to Megaworld Corporation for allowing me to use their picture-perfect postcards for my column this week.