PALO, Leyte — The triumphant participation of the two local festivals from this province during the recently-concluded Sinulog Festival in Cebu City, considered the most prestigious cultural festival in the Visayas and Mindanao, was a testament that Leyte’s festivals could compete with the rest of the country’s festivals.
Thus said Mayor Remedios “Matin” Petilla of this town, who was behind the creation of the Kasadyaan Festival while she was still the governor of Leyte. The Kasadyaan Festival showcases the various cultural festivals in the province.
During this year’s Sinulog Festival, the Lingganay Festival of Alangalang town wowed not only the large crowd but the judges because of its fast-pace and unpredictable performance matching its wonderful and colorful costumes. It was its first time to join the Sinulog Festival.
Another festival from the province, the Kuratong Festival of Dulag, landed third in the same competition.
Mayor Petilla said that she could not contain her happiness when the two festivals were declared as coming from Leyte.
“People there called our winning as Leyte’s sweep which is very true. They gave both the Lingganay and Kuratong contingents standing ovations,” she said.
Petilla said that she could say the winning performances of the two festivals should serve as an inspiration to other festivals from the province to improve their own.
Petilla, while she was the governor, encouraged local government units here in Leyte to come up with their own cultural festivals and showcase them during the annual fiesta of Tacloban, the provincial capital.
“I’m sure the victory of Lingganay Festival and the Kuratong Festival will inspire other festivals (here in Leyte) to do better. I can really say now that our own festivals can compete with the best festivals in the country,” the Palo town mayor said.
Petilla said that she will still push for the holding of the Festivals of Festival in Tacloban come June 27.
As this developed, the people behind the holding of the Pintados Festival, an affiliate of the Kasadyaan Festivals of Festival, sought for a permit from the city government of Tacloban dated January 3.
However, the letter of the Pintados Festival, signed by its vice president Evelina Acebedo, received a strongly-worded response from lawyer Tecson John Lim, city administrator.
In his Jan.4 letter-response, Lim “reminded” Acebedo on what happened last year wherein the city government claimed that the foundation and its affiliates violated a special permit granted by the city government.
“In light of these, we are constrained to investigate and review your request more keenly, keeping in mind that applicable laws, the general welfare and the best interest of the city and its constituents…,” Lim said.
Last year, the city government stood pat on its decision not to allow the contingents from the Pintados and Kasadyaan Festivals of Festival to use the city’s major streets not identified under a permit it issued.
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