Painting tilt kicks-off San Fernando cityhood celebration

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- An on-the-spot streamer painting contest at Hilaga (formerly Paskuhan Village) Saturday signaled the start of this city's "Kaganapan 2014" or the 13th Cityhood Charter Anniversary celebration.

Eight public and private schools participated in the traditional “soft launch” of Kaganapan 2014, which will culminate on February 4, the day the capital town was converted into a component city.

This year’s theme is anchored on Mayor Edwin Santiago's "Fernandino First" battlecry “Fernandino ing Mumuna, Fernandino ing Manimuna.”

“This is the traditional practice of kicking off the Kaganapan every year. The streamers painted by our Fernandino students will be displayed in the strategic areas around the city where the cycling caravan which will officially signal the start of the celebration will pass,” said Ceferino “Par” Pamintuan, chairman of Kaganapan 2014.

For his part, Santiago told Sun.Star Pampanga that Kaganapan 2014 will have his administration’s 12-point agenda as its framework.

"Kaganapan 2014 will have everything based on our 12-point agenda.

Activities for Fernandinos during the week-long celebration focus on health, education, social services and will be highlighted by our citywide environment clean-up day on February 1," he said.

Winners of the streamer painting contest in the high school division were ICT High School, which pocketed the P5,000 top prize; San Lorenzo Center for Schools and Studies; second place; Pampanga High School, third place; and University of the Assumption, fourth place.

In the elementary level, Dela Paz Norte Integrated School bagged the P5,000 for the first place, followed by Lorenzo Center for Schools and Studies, Sta. Lucia Integrated School, and San Jose Panlumacan Elementary School. (Kristine Venet Q. Andal)