Mayor Toby Tiangco has invited the public to experience the week-long Pangisdaan Festival in Navotas.
As the Fishing Capital of the Philippines, Navotas celebrates the Pangisdaan as a tribute for a year of bountiful catch of fish and seafood, the main source of livelihood of Navoteños.
The festival is also in line with the celebration of the city’s 114th founding anniversary themed “Sama-sama tayo tungo sa mas magandang bukas.”
“We encourage everyone to come to Navotas and get to know our rich history and culture. We have lined up exciting events and activities that would make sure your visit would be worthwhile,” Tiangco said.
Among Pangisdaan’s must-see is the Street Dance Competition on Jan. 10. The showdown among six public junior high schools features dance routines, props, costumes and production designs that promote the rich history, culture and tradition of Navotas.
Another highlight is the Araw ng Mangingisda on Jan. 11, which pays homage to Navoteño fisherfolks. The city government will recognize Top Ten Outstanding Fisherfolks for their good standing in the community, securing education for their children and providing for their family through responsible fishing.
Awardees may nominate a child or a relative for the NavotaAs Ulirang Pamilyang Mangingisda Scholarship.
The Araw ng Mangingisda also includes races of Navobangka, the fiberglass boats given by the city government as livelihood assistance to qualified registered Navoteño fisherfolks. Winners may take home as much as P30,000.
Pangisdaan will also feature the beauties of Navotas as they showcase both their beauty and talents, and promote their advocacies for the city. Winners of the Perlass de Navotas and Mutya ng Navotas will be crowned on January 13 and 14, respectively.
Other events that one should not miss are the Navotas Invitational Motor Show on featuring vintage and contemporary cars and motorbikes; the Kalye Fiesta food park that promotes locally-made products and home-grown delicacies; the Aero Zumba Competition for Navoteños of all ages; and the Pamilyang Navoteño Family Day, a fun-filled day for kids and the whole family.
Also lined up for Pangisdaan are Awarding of Top 20 Taxpayers for Business and Realty, Pangisdaan Festival Motorcade and Boodle Fight, and Misa ng Pasasalamat and Pistang Kristiyano.
On January 15, the Festival Grounds at the Navotas Centennial Park is expected to be jam-packed for the star-studded Pangisdaan Variety Show, Drone Dance and Pyromusical Display.
Watch out for the performances of Michael Pangilinan, Jana Agoncillo, Zephanie Dimaranan, Jericho Rosales, December Avenue and many more.
To cap off the week-long celebration, all sectors in Navotas will participate in a Grand Parade on January 16 to be led by Mayor Tiangco, Rep. John Rey Tiangco, winners of Perlass de Navotas and Mutya ng Navotas, other city officials and guest celebrities.