New dates for Laguna’s Anilag Festival announced

Tourists stroll around the Anilag Festival grounds in Sta. Cruz, Laguna. A portmanteau of the words “Ani” (Harvest) and “Laguna”, Anilag is an annual celebration of goods, commodities, and other crops produced in the province of Laguna. The week-long event features contests, parades, and a showcase of various booths of each municipality in the province. JERVIS GONZALES/CONTRIBUTOR

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna –– The Anilag Festival would push through on April 18 to 25, Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez announced Thursday on social media after it was postponed due to the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a Facebook post, Hernandez posted a photo of an advisory circular announcing the new dates for the annual event, which was originally scheduled for March 7 to 15.

“The Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Department of Tourism said that public events, meetings, and celebrations in the country may push through as long as steps are taken to avoid the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19,” Hernandez said.

The governor also reminded the public to take self-protection measures like regular hand washing and seeking medical attention if symptoms like cough, runny nose, sore throat, and fever occur.

“The wearing of a mask is optional, but we highly advise those who have a cough, runny nose, and other illnesses that weaken the immune system to wear a mask,” Hernandez added.

Anilag means “ani ng Laguna” (harvest of Laguna), which celebrates and showcases the province’s goods, commodities, and other crops.

The festival features contests, parades, and booths put up by each municipality./lzb

Visitors have their photos taken at the booth put up by the municipality of Sta. Cruz, Laguna, the province’s capital, for the Anilag Festival. JERVIS GONZALES/CONTRIBUTOR