TUDELA, CEBU — Gov. Gwen Garcia, even on a holiday, flew here for the inaugural presentation of this town’s Katungggan Festival.
She boarded a chopper provided for free by Congressman Sonny Lagon of Ako Bisaya Partylist.
Formerly called Balanghoy Festival in honor of the town’s rich harvest of cassava, the festival has been changed by the administration of Mayor Jojo Solante to highlight Tudela’s superabundance of thick mangrove forests or Katunggan — the nursery of a rich marine ecosystem as well as a natural barrier against waves and winds.
Four teams joined the maiden festival showcase, namely: Tribu Miyati, Tribu Pagatpat, Tribu Bakhaw, and Tribu Madaaigong Piag-ao, led by their festival queens who delighted audiences.
In her joy, Gov. Gwen extended a subsidy worth P200,000 for each contingent in order to help defray expenses and reward their hard working performers.
The festival showdown was the highlight of the town fiesta in honor of the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. | Mary Ann Malaya