Tacloban City and Leyte observe cultural-historical festivals to celebrate life and rebuild after typhoon Yolanda
By Leony R. Garcia
First time namin sa Tacloban City at gusto namin makita ang muling pagbangon nito mula sa malagim na pinsala dulot ng strongest typhoon in the world noong November 2013, ang Yolanda (international name: Haiyan).
In less than two years, natuwa ang Manila media delegation, kabilang ang Philippine Showbiz Republic (PSR), na makitang nakabangon na ang Tacloban. Maliban sa mga sira at abandoned houses and buildings, tila normal na ang buhay sa Tacloban at muling lumalakas ang turismo nito. May mga bagong businesses tulad ng hotels at restaurants, patunay na marami ang dumarayo dito. Punuan din ang flights at busy ang bagong repair na paliparan, ang Daniel Z. Romualdez airport
Sa kasagsagan ng parade of contingents ng Pintados-Kasadyaaan Festivals of Festivals 2015 sa Tacloban City, the highlights of which happened on June 26-30, 2015, nakasama namin ang mahusay na mentor at dance guru na si Douglas Nieras ng sikat na dance group na Powerdance. Dito na namin nalaman na tubong Tacloban si Nieras at halos taon-taon ay kinukuha siyang judge sa naturang festival na pansamantalang natigil dahil sa bagyong Yolanda.
Maraming programa para sa pista ang inihanda pati na rin ang street-dancing na halos pitong taon din pala itinigil for some political reasons.
Tacloban City was celebrating Sangyaw Festival while the provincial government of Leyte was celebrating Pintados-Kasadyawan Festival of Festivals.
Sangyaw Festival, was organized by Leyte Rep. Imelda Romualdez Marcos in the 1980s, but it was replaced by the Pintados-Kasadyawan after the 1986.
For years, the original Sangyaw was replaced by the Kasadyawan, organized by the Petilla family, until 2007 when the congressman’s cousin, incumbent Mayor Alfred Romualdez, chose to restore the Sangyaw.
But this year, both families agreed to use the fiestas to spur unity rather than division.
“Today is a time for celebration. We are all happy that we are united,” said Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, scion of the family that organized the first tourism-oriented city fiesta which is Sangyaw.
On Saturday, at least 12 contingents from different towns in Leyte and Samar joined the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals on its grand parade in major thoroughfares of Tacloban and later on performed their cultural dances before a gathering of some 50,000 people at the Leyte Sports Complex.
Dito na nagkita-kita and dalawang political clans ng Tacloban at nagbatian. Gov. Mic Petilla welcomed Rep. Romualdez on stage where he was also greeted by Palo, Leyte Mayor Remedios Matin Petilla and Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla.
On Monday evening, June 29, the city government held its Sangyaw Festival’s “Parade of Lights” with its colorful LED creations. Bukod sa 10 contingents vying for best float and other awards, sumali sa parada ang mga pinuno ng lungsod sa pangunguna ng mag-asawang Alfred at Kring-Kring Gonzales (Tacloban mayor and councilor, respectively), mga negosyo at negosyante, NGOs, various organizations.
