ROXAS CITY – Capiceños capped their annual Sinadya sa Halaran festivities here Saturday, with a spectacular grand parade of festivals and the 300th year celebration of the city fiesta.

The parade of festivals showcased the culture and way of life of Capiceños whose people have reinforced intertown collaboration following the successful holding of the three-century-old city’s fiesta.

Judy Araneta Roxas, mother of Capiz Senator Manuel A. Roxas, Gov. Victor Tanco, and City Mayor Vicente Bermejo led the local officials of the province and city and the Capiceños in celebrating the province’s premier festival that started Dec. 5.

Sen. Roxas, who was in Manila, conveyed his greetings to fellow Capiceños on the occasion of what he called a showcase of "our unique treasure that is our culture."

The event fused the Sinadya city fiesta celebration and Halaran cultural festival of the province, the seafood capital of the Philippines, to symbolize the unity of the Capiceños in their quest for progress and a better life.

Capiz produced one of the country’s presidents, Manuel Acuña Roxas, its most illustrious son. He is the grandfather of incumbent Senator Roxas.

Various cultural events, a beauty pageant, inauguration of development projects, sports competitions, indigenous games, exhibits of local products, food festival, musical shows, religious activities including special Church masses, a fluvial procession, fireworks display and other activities had filled every hour of the four-day celebration.

For the first time, a fashion show was held featuring formal and casual wear adorned and accented by Capiz shell, coconut shells and crochet by international fashion designed PJ Arañador, in tandem with events director Bombette Marin.

The show was a back-to-back event with the launching of the One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) project of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here.

The provincial and city government also had a Kapisnon Products Exhibit organized by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist headed by Sylvia De la Cruz.

So far, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has not reported any major untoward incident during the celebration. Capiz PNP Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Roberto Villanueva said the province enjoyed a generally peaceful celebration of the festival.

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) blessed and inaugurated its new office building here last Friday with senior officials from its central office present.

The Home Mutual Development Fund (HDMF) or Pag-IBIG conducted a two-day activity featuring the sale of acquired housing assets and a seminar on how to avail of the agency’s housing program. A team from its regional office in Iloilo City headed by Assistant Regional Manager for Support Group Edith De la Cruz led the holding of the activity.

De la Cruz said it was meant to bring Pag-IBIG programs and services to its members and clients in the provinces for their convenience.

This year’s festival also marked the revival of the tribes’ competition. The event had drawn a large crowd during its finals, Dec. 7 at the city plaza, with 10 tribal groups from the province and city exhibiting their talents and skills, proving that it could be a potential tourist attraction. (PIA)

The 2007 Sinadya sa Halaran was the first for Tanco as governor and Bermejo as city mayor. The two top local officials hoped that next year’s celebration would be bigger and more colorful as an offshoot of this year’s successful festivities. (PIA)

Source: Manila Bulletin
Available: http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2007/12/09/PROV20071209111125.html