ANGELES CITY -- Inspired by the growing recognition and accolades it receives from all over the country and from all over the world, Angeles City is set to launch Fiestang Kuliat 2015 (FK2015), the longest fiesta celebration in the country on September 29, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. at this city's heritage zone, Plaza Angel.
With its theme “Bayung Aske, Bayung Lawe,” (New Image, New Vision), FK2015 is focused on redefining the image of Angeles City, once considered as the Sin City of the Philippines.
It is now gaining recognition as one of the crowning jewels of heritage preservation and cultural renaissance, not only in the region, but the whole country as well.
FK2015 Executive Committee Chairman, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, gave his full authority and support to the Angeles City Tourism Office, headed by Dr. Richard Daenos to come up with a wide array of festivities that will feature the City's culture, tradition, religious devotion and zest for life and adventure.
“In 2015, we turned a new leaf for the spiritual, historical, traditional and cultural aspects of our city. This year’s Fiestang Kuliat is a celebration of how we have triumphed in making our citizens appreciate the rich and vivid history of our place,” Pamintuan said.
The religious activities are centered on the devotions to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of La Naval, whose feast falls every second Sunday of October; and Apu Mamacalulu, on the last Friday of October.
A few years back, the Holy Rosary Parish re-established the celebration of the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels which is celebrated on the first week.
Thus, Angeles City is known for its month-long fiesta celebration, with various socio-civic, academic, cultural, and sports events happening at any-given day of the whole month of October.
On October 3, the Fifth Pulayan - Tagalan King Dalan will start at SM City Clark. This fun-run activity is a fundraising campaign that would support projects of the Angeles City Police Office (ACPO).
Meanwhile, Ginoong Angeles 2015 will kick start their pageant on October 3 with a tree planting activity at Barangay Sapang Bato and a heritage tour at Sto. Rosario. The candidates then will have their Pre-Judging on October 10 at Century Hotel, followed by their Pre-Pageant on October 24 at SM City Clark’s Event Center. The pageantry and will culminate at their Coronation Night on the 28th at Grand Palazzo Royale.
Cultural events are also expected this year such as the GraciAngeles by Sinukwan Kapampangan Performing Arts, which is the newest festival in the city to honor the Los Angeles de los Custodios; Kundiman ning Angeles by the Kundiman ning Angeles Foundation; Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino Heritage Tour by the National Commission ofr Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Mamialung Tamu that will showcase Kapampangan versions of traditional Filipino games.
The NCCA has also chosen Angeles City to stage Dayaw: The Indigenous Peoples Festival from the 15th to the 17th.
A fiesta is no fiesta without the presence of rich and sumptuous food. Added to this year’s fiesta celebration is “Big Bite! Northern Food Festival Featuring Sisig” which will take place on October 16 to 18 at the Marquee Mall parking grounds.
The Nepo Center, one of the newest destinations for food in the city, will also hold its own food fair on October 1 to 4.
Meanwhile, the Kuliat Foundation Inc., will delight visitors with its famed fiesta spread dubbed “Pamangan Fiestang Kapampangan” at the Museo ning Angeles on October 10.
The city is also set to hold the annual Tigtigan Terakan keng Dalan at MacArthur Highway Balibago on October 23-24.
Local universities, colleges and bands will also go head-to-head with the Inter-University Music Festival on the 30th, an event akin to last year’s wildly successful 7107 International Music Festival.
This year’s FK2015 also sees the return of some events such as the the Calesin Tilbury Race on the 12th at Jake Gonzales Boulevard and the Angeles 4x4 Off Road Challenge, October 17 at the Nepo Center. (AC-CIO with reports from Veronica Apostol and Paolo Vinuya)