The 9th Kanlahi Festival officially opened Monday, March 3, at the Tarlac Provincial Capitol. The day opened with the regular flag raising ceremony, followed by a eucharistic celebration and a press conference.
The festival, which was previously held on May 28 in the previous years, is staged earlier in 2025. According to Tarlac Governor Susan Yap, rains have marred last year’s activity-filled Kanlahi Festival. To avoid the risk of having the performers, audience and set up getting soaked this year, the Provincial Government has issued an ordinance to move the festival to an earlier date this year.
Vice Governor Carlito David said that the Ordinance declares that the Kanlahi Festival shall now be held every first week of March.
Asked what makes Kanlahi different from other festival, Governor Yap said, “While most festivals celebrate saints or schools, Kanlahi Festival is a celebration of our people. It’s a celebration of the Taralaqueños and their talent.”
Meanwhile, Tarlac Provincial Tourism Officer Arsenio Lugay II highlighted that “We (Tarlac) were the only LGU who held a festival during the pandemic.”
Among the activities lined up in Kanlahi Festival 2025 are street dancing, zumba, nightly sports dance, Ginoong Kanlahi and Binibining Kanlahi pageants, and a concert topbilled by the Prince of Philippine Rock, Bamboo.
