Cabanatuan”•Five cities and 27 municipalities have successfully gathered in one big Festival of All Festivals celebration at SM Megacenter and SM City here.
Carolyn Licup, assistant mall manager, said the Harvest Festival 2019 was a weekend full of colors and festivities.
On Saturday, Licup said the town of Zaragoza won 1st place in the Festival Costume Competition, beating 10 others who joined. A woman wore a gown made of abaca with bundled palay and rice grains representing the local government unit of Zaragoza, created by local designer Enoc Aliga.
Licup said it featured works of the best designers from the cities and municipalities in the province, as the event was designed to uplift tourism and the “One Town, One Product” (OTOP) program of each LGU.
“The ladies modeled gowns made of local and indigenous materials that popular and can be found in their presented towns,” she said.
On Sunday, the town of Pantabangan bagged the championship on Street Dance Competition, beating five other groups. Wearing vibrant colorful constumes and props, the dancers from barangay Malbang gave their best and brought happy faces during the competition.
JayAr Padilla, assistant mall manager, said SM is really working hard for this project so it will be a tourism attraction in the province in future years.
“Nueva Ecija is a huge province, and the cities and municipalities have their own unique culture, talent and creativity that we think is world class, that can be properly gathered in one big celebration and promoted as a destination for local and international tourist every September,” Padilla said. Brenda Jocson
The event was recognized internationally at the Stevie Awards in Singapore last year, and will continue to bags awards in the coming years because of the hardwork and dedication of the people behind this project.
“We are encouraging more participants next year with the support of their LGUs because as we work together, everything is possible,” Padilla added.
The event was graced by Armando Giron, a tourism advocate and former Vice Chairman of Nueva Ecija Council for History, Culture and the Arts; Department of Trade and Industry provincial director Bridiga Pili; and tourism officers in Nueva Ecija. Brenda Jocson