The culminating event of Mabalacat City’s first ever Balacat Festival was a certified major hit with a combined estimate of more than 15 thousand people flooding the streets of McArthur Highway and filling the 3-hectare Balacat Village to witness the street dance and free dance interpretation competitions last March 03.
Unlike the usual one-themed street-dance competition of other festivals, Balacat Fest wowed its audience as it featured the different chapters of the city’s history from 𝑝𝑟𝑒-ℎ𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝐴𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑊𝑎𝑟 𝐼𝐼, 𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑎𝑤, 𝑃𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑏𝑜 𝑒𝑟𝑢𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑂𝑉𝐼𝐷-19 𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑐 𝑒𝑟𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦’𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛.
According to Professor Robby Tantingco of Center for Kapampangan Studies, the Mabalacat City Government displayed a brilliant detail in the brand-new festival. “This is the first festival that did not depend solely on a beauty pageant and other competitions but on civic-duty activities like tree-planting, job fairs and medical missions, and it’s the first festival that featured not just ati-atihan street dancing but the chapters of the city’s history,” Tantingco added.
The crowd also lauded the colorful and eco-friendly costumes of the participants as well as the Balacat Festival song, which was written by Alex Castro, a renowned historian, pertaining to the rich history of Mabalacat and its progress.
A total of 10 clustered schools from the 27 barangays contended in the dance competition. Among the contenders, the contingent #5, which consists of elementary and high schools in barangays Dau, Duquit and Lakandula, bagged the Best in Costume and Props and Best in Free Interpretative Dance while the contingent #7, which consist of elementary schools from brangays Dapdap, Paralayunan and Sta. Maria and HS and Senior HS in Madapdap, won as the overall champion with Best in Street Dance, Best in Choreography and Best in Musicality awards.
The panel of judges, who were served the signature delicacy of Mabalacat, Putong Babi, consisted of prominent personalities in the industry including Marichu Tellano, Deputy Executive Director of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts and an Aliw Awardee of Special Recognition For Outstanding Cultural Leadership, Armando Sta. Ana, Artistic Director of Barsoain Kalinangan Foundation INC. National Company, Shirley Halili Cruz, Chairperson of the NCAA – National Committee on Dance who also founded the Sayaw Pinoy Touring Concert, Richard Eusebio, A Fellow of the Asian Cultural Council in Newyork USA, and currently the Department Manager for Cultural Center of the Phils. Founder Facilitator of the CCP Kaisa sa Sining Regional Arts Center, and Lino L. Dizon, PHD, Commissioner of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).
Mayor Crisostomo Garbo, who was a crowd-favorite, received rockstar treatment from his constituents as they took turns taking selfies with the local chief executive. He then extended his gratitude to the city council headed by vice mayor Gerald Guttrie Aquino for their support, and the barangay officials who did not just comply but wholeheartedly participated in the activities. MCG also praised the Balacat Festival committee headed by Tourism Officer Arwin Lingat for a job well done, and thanked the support of all the Mabalaquenians for making all the activities successful.
Apart from the street and free dance competitions, the city also awarded the best Pavilions. Among which were Best night look pavilion, won by brgy Sta.Ines, Best day light -Brgy San Francisco, Excellence sales and marketing award – brgy Sapang Balen, Eco-friendly pavilion award – brgy Sta.Maria and Best in trick star award – brgy Bical. Each of these barangays won a trophy and Php10,000 cash while the rest of the non-winning barangays received Php5,000 consolation prize in addition to their Php20,000 subsidy from the local government. The Pavilion of Brgy. Sta. Maria was hailed the grand winner of the competition.
Newly crowned Miss Mabalacat 2023 – Stacey David from Brgy. San Francisco, 1st runner up – Czarina Mae Cuevas from Brgy. Dau, 2nd runner up – Kyla Mae Regala from Brgy. Dapdap; 3rd runner up – Bianca Marie Garcia from Brgy. Sapang Biyabas and 4th runner up – Fiona Balmedina from Brgy. Marcos Village, also brightened the night with their presence. The Miss Mabalacat pageant as well received praises and commendations for its unique integration of cultural practices such as magdarame (penitents) and Lubenas (religious procession) in its programs.
The night ended with a grand fireworks display at the Balacat Village with thousands of people still flocking and celebrating the success of Mabalacat city’s first ever Balacat Festival.
