Ormoc City—Mayor Richard Gomez said they are ready for a “better, bigger, and brighter” Piña Festival and fiesta celebration starting June 1 to 29.
“There are a lot of people working together for our fiesta. Everyone involved wants the celebration to be more exciting,” said Gomez, as he invited the public to visit Ormoc and be part of its celebration.
“The Piña Festival also seeks to promote, not only Ormoc’s very own sweet queen pineapple but also its people’s strong personality that overcomes challenges and obstacles they face, from personal problems to calamities and disasters,” added the actor-turned-mayor, who won a second term after being reelected in the May 13 polls.
Gomez said they have allocated P22 million for the fiesta, with other funds to be augmented by their sponsors for this year’s month-long festivity.
“The city spends money to make our people happy, increase economic activities, and ensure that businesses are alive,” Gomez told reporters.
City councilor Gregorio Yrastorza III, committee executive co-chairman, urged the public to get ready for the “exciting days ahead” as they unveiled the various activities for the 422nd fiesta celebration in honor of its patron Sts. Peter and Paul on June 29.
“We’ve been preparing for this,” Yrastorza said.
“This celebration is something we are always proud of,” added Stephanie Diane Chu, resource generation chairwoman.
“Mayor Gomez levels us to other cities. This is a collective effort of volunteers and participants,” said Chu, while thanking their corporate and private sponsors.
Assisting the socio-civic activities are business groups like the Rotary Club of Ormoc Bay through its president Apple Anido Alagon.
One of the major fiesta events will be the Parade of Lights on the evening of June 15.
The parade, with its theme “Storyland”, will feature luminescent vehicular floats and lighted costumes that will pass through the city’s major thoroughfares.
The Parade of Lights was also among the crowd-favorites in last year’s fiesta events.
“Now on its third year, the Piña Festival street dance and ritual showdown is one of the highlights on the entire celebration which will be held on June 23,” said the Piña Festival chairwoman Estrella Maria Pangilinan.
At least 20 candidates will vie for this year’s Search for Miss Ormoc on June 28 at the Ormoc Superdome.
The title holder will represent the city in the Miss World Philippines pageant in Manila, added Nelson Alindogan, chairman of the Miss Ormoc 2019.
Aside from being an advocate on environmental protection and local tourism, the crowned queen will also receive P100,000 as grand prize.
About 16 tournaments will also be played starting June 1
The triathlon is set on June 9 and is open to all athletes around the country, while the Philippines’ first laser run will be played again in the city on June 16.
From June 1-30, the fiesta food bazaar coupled with nightly entertainment will open at the city’s downtown area, targeting 3,000 diners per night.
The June 29 culminating concert will have the Pinoy rock star Bamboo to entertain the expected crowd of 20,000 at the city public plaza.
Sectoral fiesta celebrations include religious, barangay workers, government employees, market vendors, socio civic organizations, business, and educators, among others.
Gomez said the celebration is expected to draw over a million of visitors, ensuring to keep the economic activities alive in Ormoc.
A first-class independent component city of Leyte, Ormoc produces 100 tons per year of the world’s sweet queen pineapple variety.
Best known as the “City of Beautiful People,” Ormoc is one of the province’s major economic hubs with its over 200,000 population.