MABALACAT, Pampanga – At least 31 groups will compete in the staging of Caragan Festival on February 27, described by its organizers as the grandest mardi gras and street dancing in Pampanga that recognizes the life and times of Aeta tribes in this town.
Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales said the groups called “tribus” (tribes) will participate in three categories of dance competitions that will interpret the lifestyle of Aeta tribes. The Aetas are well known for their dances as part of their celebration of their struggles and triumphs.
Morales said that the festival is in honor of Caragan, the first chieftain of this town who happened to be an Aeta. Caragan is said to have led the Aeta tribe in living in thick forests of Balacat trees, a tall and sturdy species that gave this town its name.
“This festival is not only about having fun with street dances but also about honoring the rich cultural heritage of the people of Mabalacat. The Aetas, being one of the original inhabitants, are also given due recognition,” Morales said.
June Magbalot, Mabalacat Fiesta Committee co-chair, said that various public and private schools have confirmed participation in the dance interpretations of the event which is dubbed as “festival of all festivals” in Pampanga.
He said that 19 “tribus” comprising public and private elementary schools will participate in the junior division. The main division, on the other hand, will have nine competing tribes from various high schools in the town. The ethnic division will have three competing tribe-schools while special presentation will be made by the so-called “Tribung Boking”, a group made up of municipal employees, students from Mabalacat College and members of the Mabalacat Center for the Arts.
Some P200,000 worth of prizes for best dance interpretation, best costume, best ethnic group, best head dress will be given away during the festivities.
Meanwhile, Deng Pangilinan, Mabalacat Fiesta Committee co-chair, said that Senator Richard Gordon has been invited to be the festival speaker this year.
Pangilinan said that Gordon, a former tourism secretary, is expected to witness the colorful dances and cultural presentations at the Poblacion.
Slated to start at 1 p.m.. Caragan Festival will be a spectacular street dance feat, parade of unique floats, costumes and head dresses that will be displayed in a stretch of about three kilometers on MacArthur Highway from Mabiga to the Poblacion.
With enormous parade of colors and dances, traffic advisories will be issued by the municipal government in order to prevent gridlock along MacArthur highway and other side streets.
Now on its second staging, Caragan Festival is a brainchild of Morales, Magbalot, Pangilinan, and the Sangguniang Bayan. It is being supported by the Mabalacat Performing Arts, Department of Education, local schools and colleges, and business enterprises.
Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales said the groups called “tribus” (tribes) will participate in three categories of dance competitions that will interpret the lifestyle of Aeta tribes. The Aetas are well known for their dances as part of their celebration of their struggles and triumphs.
Morales said that the festival is in honor of Caragan, the first chieftain of this town who happened to be an Aeta. Caragan is said to have led the Aeta tribe in living in thick forests of Balacat trees, a tall and sturdy species that gave this town its name.
“This festival is not only about having fun with street dances but also about honoring the rich cultural heritage of the people of Mabalacat. The Aetas, being one of the original inhabitants, are also given due recognition,” Morales said.
June Magbalot, Mabalacat Fiesta Committee co-chair, said that various public and private schools have confirmed participation in the dance interpretations of the event which is dubbed as “festival of all festivals” in Pampanga.
He said that 19 “tribus” comprising public and private elementary schools will participate in the junior division. The main division, on the other hand, will have nine competing tribes from various high schools in the town. The ethnic division will have three competing tribe-schools while special presentation will be made by the so-called “Tribung Boking”, a group made up of municipal employees, students from Mabalacat College and members of the Mabalacat Center for the Arts.
Some P200,000 worth of prizes for best dance interpretation, best costume, best ethnic group, best head dress will be given away during the festivities.
Meanwhile, Deng Pangilinan, Mabalacat Fiesta Committee co-chair, said that Senator Richard Gordon has been invited to be the festival speaker this year.
Pangilinan said that Gordon, a former tourism secretary, is expected to witness the colorful dances and cultural presentations at the Poblacion.
Slated to start at 1 p.m.. Caragan Festival will be a spectacular street dance feat, parade of unique floats, costumes and head dresses that will be displayed in a stretch of about three kilometers on MacArthur Highway from Mabiga to the Poblacion.
With enormous parade of colors and dances, traffic advisories will be issued by the municipal government in order to prevent gridlock along MacArthur highway and other side streets.
Now on its second staging, Caragan Festival is a brainchild of Morales, Magbalot, Pangilinan, and the Sangguniang Bayan. It is being supported by the Mabalacat Performing Arts, Department of Education, local schools and colleges, and business enterprises.
