The Local Government of Bacolor formally unveiled the list of activities for the return of the La Naval De Bacolor Fiesta from November 14 to 20.
The annual week-long celebration was paused for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and resumed this year as part of the town’s tourism promotions.
“Bacoloreños reunite during the festivities to rekindle their glorious cultural past and this serves as an appetizer for a bigger celebration, the Christmas season,” said Voltaire San Pedro, Bacolor Tourism Officer.
The event has been considered a significant celebration to commemorate the resilience of the townsfolk from surviving the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991.
In this year’s edition, the Municipality of Bacolor also brought back their traditional mode of transportation as they offered free jazzed-up kalesa rides to their residents. According to the locals, the last time kalesas were widely used in their locality dates back to 1994.
During the flag ceremony, local brass bands Banda De San Antonio, Banda 94 and Banda 5 performed before the crowd with traditional and contemporary pieces.
The town’s local officials led by Mayor Eduardo Datu, Vice Mayor Ron Dungca together with Congressman Dong Gonzales and 3rd District Board Member Mica Gonzales took part in the ceremonial revelation of the La Naval activities.
“For us, the La Naval has been a tradition as it is celebrated for more than 400 years now and we are bringing back the festivity this year. There is always time for everything and in God’s perfect timing we are doing this for our constituents,” said Bacolor Mayor Eduardo Datu.
Gearing up for tourism promotions, the Bacolor LGU will conduct Senior Citizens Inter-barangay singing contest, Mass Civil Wedding, Makatapak festival inter-school folk dance competition, Agro-Food and Trade Fair, Piyalung Baculud and Reina De Bacolor pageant.
Villa de Bacolor is one of the three towns in the country including Angeles City and Quezon City that celebrate the La Naval feast venerating Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. (Story and photos by Gerald Gloton)
