By the MIS Web Dev’t Team
Friends, tourists and Lagunenos came from afar. How happy they were!They took pride in witnessing the Philippines’ grandest festival of life, the LA LAGUNA FESTIVAL. The festival, which is the first of its kind, unites all the 26 towns and 4 cities of the Province of Laguna in major events, namely: The Trade Fair Booth Competition, which depicts the deeply-rooted Christian faith in every Laguneño of honoring each town’s patron saint; Land Float Competition, Fluvial/Parade Competition and the Street Dance Competition. Other events that visitors truly marveled on are the Dragon Boat Race and Banca Race that paid homage to the remarkable boat riding skills of fisher folks and seaside dwellers of our province. Also, the painted empty canvass of the skies with colorful hues in the Fireworks Competition and the Brass Band Competition was a sight every onlooker enjoyed.
Laguna: The Resort Capital, Detroit, and Silicon Valley of the Philippines under the administration of Governor Jeorge E.R. Ejercito Estregan opened the Provincial Capitol Compound and the newly-developed Festival Grounds in the Municipality of Sta. Cruz to all the tourists and locals as the province celebrates the Grandest Celebration of Life – THE LA LAGUNA FESTIVAL with the theme: Sari-saring Buhay sa Bagong Laguna (The Variety of Life in the New Laguna).
The week-long festival opened Sunday, April 10, 2011, at around 2 PM starting with the Carnival Queen Mardigras Party where street dancers from different municipalities and cities of Laguna paraded in their colorful costumes and awed the crowd with their festive energy and lively dance moves as they were accompanied by the ethnic percussion band.
This was followed by the Sagala, a parade of beautiful lasses in their gowns made from Pandan, a plant that is commonly used to make woven bed mats. This activity was participated in by 11 designers together with their models showcasing the beautiful works of art.
A thanksgiving mass was celebrated at the grandstand. Another major activity that was held later in the evening is the 1st Pyro-Musical Fireworks Competition. This was participated by 5 groups and is organized by the Office of the Provincial Administrator headed by Atty. Leonardo M. Ragaza, Jr.
With the warmth and loving nature of Laguneño, those who witnessed the celebration of the grandest festival of life, the LA LAGUNA, created memories that they will remember for a lifetime!
