IT was not as grand as last year’s Halad Inasal Festival but Talisaynons still showed that the lechon or roasted pig was still the city’s fiesta table centerpiece.
Nine contingents from the city’s public schools and barangays performed with gusto during a grand festival showdown at the Talisay City Central School.
Arturo Bas, Talisay City’s information officer, said yesterday that the city had to implement cost-saving measures in the festival because of the expected P50-million cut in the city’s Internal Revenue Allotment next year.
The budget cut is an offshoot of anticipated smaller revenue shares resulting from the declaration of 16 new cities across the country, which would strain the distribution of additional IRA.
Instead of a parade of real roasted pigs as in previous years, contingents mostly used Styrofoam models of lechon as props. In one float, a real lechon was displayed riding a motorcycle. The dancing and festivity portrayed the city folks’ devotion and thanksgiving to Talisay’s patron saint Teresa de Avila, a Carmelite nun.
Pundok Kabatan-unan of the Sisters of Mary School won the top prizes in this competition. They were named champion in the ritual dance competition, Best in Andas and Best Decorated Audio Van and Best in Street Dancing Competition.
Their lead dancer Shirla Cabigon also bagged this year’s title as Festival Queen.
Cebu 1st district Rep. Eduardo Gullas, in his speech, said the annual feast of the patron saint was a church activity that has evolved through the years into the city’s annual festival.
Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale emphasized that the towns have stepped up to organize their own festivals. /Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus