As this city will hold the Pasalamat Festival 2014 on the third Sunday of this month, City Mayor Romeo P. Pulmones issued Executive Order No. 57 dated January 2, 2014 ordering all barangays here to take part in all activities and to appropriate counterpart funds to ensure success in the conduct of various activities for the said event.
“The essence of being participative in all activities of the city government is the key to establish better relationships between the barangays and local officials,” the good mayor quipped.
The chief executive has called on all barangays to actively participate in all activities lined up for the annual parochial fiesta celebration with the Pasalamat Festival as the major spectacular event.
Showcasing the culture and tradition of its tri-people - the Christians, Muslims and Lumads - the 15th Pasalamat Festival 2014 celebration runs from January 13 to 19 with several activities scheduled to enliven the spirits of Sto. Niňo devotees.
The Parochial Fiesta falls every 3rd Sunday of January, which coincides with the Sinulog Festival in Cebu on January 19.
Vice Mayor Divina Grace C. Yu, chairman, Pasalamat Festival 2014 steering committee, said the activities will kick-off with the Agro-Trade Fair at Plaza Luz on January 13 to be spearheaded by the City Agriculture Office.
The Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in cooperation with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the local and international employment agencies will also sponsor a Job Fair to be held at the City Gym on January 14.
Coastal barangays will also be participating in the sea games such as swimming, fluvial parade and others. A variety show will be held nightly at the Taclobo Stage to provide entertainment to the public.
City administrator Brixio P. Daniel said this year’s street dance competition, which will be participated in by 15 schools, will be held on January 17.
It is one activity which draws thousands of spectators and enthusiasts even under the intense heat of the sun or dripping wet in the rain.
Meanwhile, the city government has earmarked more than P1 million for the prizes of the street dance competition.
“The competition has 2 categories: the ritual and street dance,” said Daniel.
He said prizes for the ritual category are as follows: 1st – P200,000, 2nd – 150,000, and 3rd –P100,000.
For street dance: 1st –P100,00, 2nd – 75,000, and 3rd – 50,000 while P50,000 consolation prize for the non-winning contingent will also be given away.
“This is different from previous years. Prizes that will be given to participating schools and barangays are in cold cash while in previous years, they were in the form of cash and projects,” Daniel explained.
“In previous years, the cash prizes were not that big. Only those prizes intended for projects were given bigger allocation, but some of these were not given to the barangays,” Daniel explained.
“In order to avoid this common practice, this year’s Pasalamat Festival steering committee upholds the principle of transparency by giving cash directly to all participants after the contest,” Daniel added.
He observed that schools and barangays always play a vital role in the success of activities conducted by the city government.
A concelebrated mass is also scheduled on January 18 at the wharf area before the Fluvial Parade. Sto. Niňo devotees, bearing all sizes of their patron saint would flock to the venue to participate in the religious activity.
Capping the celebration would be a Holy Mass and other religious activities set by the Catholic Church. (PIA9)
