Sta. Marcela, Apayao opens Balangkoy Festival 2023 with float parade on the lake

Sta. Marcela, Philippines – What is a better way to kick-off a town festival than a float parade?

Most places in the Philippines conduct a civic parade to open a celebration, but for Santa Marcela in Apayao, while they held a parade, they did it on water this time through floats made by their respective barangays moving around the famous Bacut Lake.

Santa Marcela, the youngest municipality in Apayao, celebrates its 56th founding anniversary and 19th Balangkoy Festival from June 15 – 17, 2023. This year’s kick-off activity was graced by Congresswoman Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, Mayor Evelyn Martinez, Sangguniang Bayan headed by Vice Mayor Rolly Guiang, government agencies, and the town’s constituents and visitors.

On the first day, said town held a Fluvial parade on Bacut Lake which is the first time in the municipality.

Three floats were exhibited on said lake and were judged based on creative design (30%), craftsmanship(30%), innovative use of materials and resources(30%), and overall appearance(10%).

Winners are yet to be announced.

Other activities which highlighted the first day of celebration include the sashing of 6 ‘Libnos ti Santa Marcela’ candidates; ribbon cutting of the agro-industrial trade and tourism fair; and the awarding of 90 Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers(TUPAD) beneficiaries from Santa Marcela.

Evening activity was the ‘Panaggi-inniliw’ and Fashion show. The ‘Panaggi-inniliw’ is for balikbayans and OFWs who left the town for some reasons and are back in the community. This was also made for those who were forced out during the days when insurgencies and difficult economic conditions battered the town through the 60s to 80s.

The fashion show meantime presented the town's own fabric and designs of yApayao designers along with souvenir items and products that shaped the municipality’s identity.\

LISTEN TO STATION 1 RADIO: CLICK ME

OTHER NEWS 

Pasil to mark 57th year of existence with a blast

Follow Guru Press Cordillera  on Facebook for more News and Information