1 week Ago By Jovi De Leon
The City Government of San Fernando and members of the Pyestang Fernandino Executive Committee on Monday launched the month-long celebration of the feast of St. Ferdinand III on May 30. The event started with the sashing of 15 Mutya Ning San Fernando candidates and unveiling of the calendar of activities.
Pyestang Fernandino Executive Committee Chairperson Councilor Brenz Gonzales said that there will be lesser activities in anticipation of the upcoming polls. But he clarified that the festivities will still embody the theme “King Pámanyúlung ning Balen a Pákamálan, ing Kultura, Kasaleséyan at Kasalpantayánan álî la dápat makakalinguan.” "We in the executive committee, together with our mayor [Vilma Caluag] and vice-mayor [Benedict Jasper Lagman] ensured that this year's celebration will be as special as the previous ones.
The events are intact, well-organized with budgets allocated for each, and are being supported by the private and business sectors," he said. Gonzales added that some events like graduation of students in city public schools, had to be taken off the calendar of activities. "Iyung iba po, hindi talaga pinayagan as these could be used for campaigning.
For this year, the Kayabe Festival will not be held due to budget constraints, he said, while others had to be scheduled after the campaign period and election." As for the beauty contest, which is the highlight of the event, Gonzales said the executive committee welcomes support from sponsors to help the candidates and the tilt committee. Gonzales said he led efforts to support the MNSF by pouring in P200,000 from his own pockets.
The same amount will be donated this year, he said. Caluag said this year's Pyestang Fernandino promises to be as festive as the previous ones, despite limited resources. "In fairness po sa executive committee, kung ano po iyung proposed budget ay ating ina-approve at wala naman po tayong dinidis-approve.
So siguro po, iyung other needs ng candidates, iyun po ang pino-provide ng iba," she said. The mayor added that during her term as chair of Barangay Dolores, the village council shouldered the expenses of their MNSF representative. Lagman said barangay leaders should allocate a budget for their cultural programs like the Mutya, so the Pyestang Fernandino executive committee could prepare counterpart funding for candidates from the city's 35 villages.
"Rest assured, as mentioned by the mayor, once we have [city council] the proposal, we will fund them. The Pyestang Fernandino is an annual event that should be improved so we will make sure that for the next years to come, barangays will be supported," he said. This year's Pyestang Fernandino will commence on May 5 with a training for tourism groups.
This will be followed by the MNSF press presentation and casual wear competition on May 10; Farmers' Week Planting Festival and Kalesa rolling tours (batch 1) on May15. Other activities include a trade fair on May 16 to 18; MNSF pre-pageant, advocacy and swimwear competition, Operation Tuli on May 19 to 20; Farmers' Week awarding of farm interventions on May 20; Pyesta Tiangge from May 21 to 30; Refill Revolution and Kalesa rolling tours (batch 2) on May 22; Flores De Mayo on May 23; motorcade on May 24; Fernandino Frisbee Competition on May 25; Equine Vet Mission on May 26; MNSF Coronation Night and unveiling of the bust monument of Antonio Consunji on May 29; thanksgiving mass, jamboree and Bayanihan Bulilit on May 30..
