Lawaan group bags top prize

Despite doing away with the parade of floats portion, Talisay City’s Halad Inasal Festival was still a success with the Lawaan National High School bagging the 1st place prize in the ritual competition.

The Lawaan contingent won the nod of the judges as they showed a display of roasted lechon in the background while some members of the group in white Maria Clara gowns performed up front.

The contingent also won the Best in Audio Van and Best in Street Dancing awards.

Second place went to the Sisters of Mary Girlstown. Their festival queen, Cristlie Moso, a 4th year student, bagged this year’s festival queen award.

Third place honors went to Divino Amore Academy. while Talisay City National High School bagged the Best in Costume.

It was a near- grand slam performance for the Lawaan National High School which bagged three awards this year during the Halad Inasal Festival in Talisay City held yesterday afternoon.

Talisay City Administrator Richel Bacaltos earlier said the celebration was held yesterday to prevent disturbing the flow of traffic as experienced in previous celebrations when the parade was held on the feast day of the city’s patroness Santa Teresa de Avila. Today is the feast day of the patroness.

Bacaltos also said there were lesser contingents and no parade of floats because of the lack of budget. There were only seven participating contingents this year as compared to 11 last year.

Present during the festivities were Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Rep. Pablo John Garcia of  Cebu’s 3rd district, former Danao City Vice Mayor Ramon “Boboy” Durano IV, and Rep. Eduardo Gullas of Cebu’s 1st district. /Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus