ANGELES CITY – It was two hours late but the in the end, the impatient audience was treated to a visual feast as the history of this city unfolded in a parade of 17 fl oats depicting its moments of struggle and glory.
The elaborate float parade was part of the city government’s commemoration of the city’s 50th year of cityhood.
But due to some snag, it began at 7 p.m. or two hours late than scheduled last Saturday. Archie Reyes, city information offi cer and overall coordinator of the fl oat parade, said some of the trucks where the floats were mounted were rejected as they arrived at the last minute at Nepo Quad. “It was already 12 noon when some of the trucks arrived and some of them did not meet the specifications so we had to look for replacements,” Reyes
reasoned.
Shortly before 7 p.m., the audience including a visibly irate Mayor Ed Pamintuan stood up from their chairs in front of the makeshift stage set up in front of the Our Lady of Holy Rosary Parish Church right at the intersection of Sto. Rosario Street and Sto. Entierro Street. He returned to his seat as soon as the parade began.
Among the audience were members and scions of prominent families in the city including the Mirandas, Hensons, Nepomucenos, Del Rosarios, Tayags, and Pamintuans among others as well as Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting and members of the city council and guests.
Marco Nepomuceno, vice chair of the 50th Cityhood Celebration Committee chaired by the mayor, was brief in his welcome remarks. But Vega-Cabigting’s speech took 10 minutes long elaborating on the city’s history, her speech peppered with reminiscences of the past.
In keeping with the golden anniversary’s theme “Limampulung Banwa, Gintung Mana,” the floats depicted the
history of the city from its foundation up to the present times. The 17 floats were designed and conceptualized by
artist Nikki Reyes and historian Dan Dizon.
The first float illustrated the founding and clearing of Barrio Culiat which showed indigenous Aetas in their native costumes. The Spanish era, the celebration of the first year anniversary of the Philippine Independence Day in the city at the Pamintuan Mansion, the American period and World War II, cityhood, the Mt. Pinatubo eruption and its aftermath, the Tigtigan Terakan king Dalan, Clark and the Clark International Airport and the present Angeles City were all depicted in floats.
Pamintuan said present Angeleños witnessed the city’s history as it unfolded through the float procession. “As we celebrate Angeles’ golden anniversary, the float parade reminds us of our city’s illustrious past, our traditions and culture,” Pamintuan said.
“The float parade told a story on how we as a people turned damning tragedies into triumph and how the city is seen as one of the best emerging cities of the country today,” the mayor added. The parade was accompanied by dancers of Sinukwan Performing Arts under the direction of Peter De Vera, UYATArtists Group under Jayson Pabalan, with various schoolbased performing arts groups. Pamintuan also expressed his gratitude to the partners of the local government who presented themselves as sponsors for the production of the different floats.
The sponsors include the Kuliat Foundation Inc., Don Pepe Henson Enterprises Inc., Angeles Electric Corporation, Marquee Mall, Holy Angel University, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Metro Angeles
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Juan D. Nepomuceno Sons Inc., Angeles City Water District, Balibago Business Establishments Association, San Miguel Corp., Clark Development Corp., Clark International Airport Corp., SM City Clark, and the Department of Tourism Region III.
