Zamboanga Hermosa Festival Schedule of Activities

In my opinion, this year's Zamboanga Hermosa Festival marketing plan is not working well. Local residents and tourist had difficulty in getting the correct schedule of activities for the festivities. Posters has not yet been released and the tarpaulins were displayed just yesterday. The schedule that I posted here several days ago which I got from a local newspaper was errronous and thus I have to delete it.

Here is the schedule I got from the tarpaulin which was display along the Gov. Camins Ave Rotonda:

Wow Zamboanga
October 1- 8
7PM- onwards
National Museum Courtyard, Fort Pilar

Cosechas de Zamboanga
October 1-15
9AM, Plaza Pershing

Art Exhibit
October 6 - November 6
6PM, Garden Ochid Hotel

City-wide Job Dair
October 2-3
8AM- 5PM
City Health Compound

Novena Mass
October 3 -5
5:30 PM
Fort Pilar

Beng Climaco Badminton Cup
(Inter-Government Tournament)
October 3-6
8AM- 5PM
LB Badminton Center

1st Zamboanga Hermosa Invitational MTB Challenge
(Circuit Race Competition)
October 5
7AM- onwards
Abong-abong, Pasonanca

SMB Cerveza Negra Jazz Saturday Nights
October 4
8PM - onwards
Cafe Zambo, Canelar

Regatta de Zamboanga
October 5
8AM
RT Lim Boulevard

Mindanao Week of Peace 2008 Awarding Ceremony
(writing and painting competition)
October 6
4PM
National Museum Courtyard, Fort Pilar

Servicio Medical
October 7
8AM - 5PM
City Health Compound

Dancesport Competition - Year 5
October 8
1PM
ZC Coliseum

Grand Fashion Show
October 8
7PM
Astoria Regency

Fiesta Solo Art Exhibit
October 8 - November 8
5:30 (Opening Exhibit)
The Gallery of the Peninsula and the Archipelago
ADZU, La Purisima Street

Miss Zamboanga 2008
October 9
7PM
Astoria Regency

Chabacano Song Festival
October 9
7PM
Garden Orchid Hotel

"Classic Meets Rock"
October 10 & 11
Multi-Purpose Covered Court
ADZU, La Purisima Street

Erico Basilio Fiesta Pilar Dart Cup
October 10-11
Ram's Beer Garden

"Savers the Wonder Dog"
Dog Show
October 10 -11
ZC Coliseum

Motorcade Dog Show
October 10
8AM, 3PM - 5PM

Dog Show
October 11
8AM - 10AM, 3PM - 5PM

Mascota de Zamboanga Show
October 10
6PM
Museum Courtyard, Fort Pilar

MYMP Concert
October 10
7PM
ZC Coliseum

Floral Float Parade
Street Dance Competition
Street Dance Showdown
Fiesta Main Program
October 11
1PM: Canelar to City Hall
3PM: Stage at City Hall

Wow Sardinas
October 11
5:30 ON
RT Lim Boulevard

Wushu Sanshou Tournament
October 11
3PM
ZCPC Covered Court

Mayor Celso L. Lobregat Cup
Golf Tournament - Year 4
October 11 - 12
9AM
Zamboanga Golf Course and Beach Park

Awarding Ceremony
October 12
7PM
Garden Deck, Garden Orchid Hotel

Religious Activities
October 12
Fort Pilar

Market Bazaar/ Garage Sale
October 18 -19
9AM - 6PM
Parking Area, MP Towers
Nuñez Extension

San Miguel Beer Oktoberfest
120 Celebrations
October 24
7PM - onwards
Gov. Camins Ave. Read more...

Chabacano songfest on

Deadline for the 2008 Chabacano Song Festival, a highlight of the Grand Zamboanga Hermosa Festival is set for Friday, September 26.

Now on its 26th year, the chabacano song tilt is one of the city government's efforts to preserve the chabacano language, the only one of its kind in the country and entire Asia, earning Zamboanga the title as "Asia's Latin City".

The competition is the brain child of the late Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat, who initiated the tilt when she was still the president of the defunct First United Broadcasting Corporation (FUBC) in 1982.

Entries for the songfest are to be submitted not later than Sept. 26 (Friday), during office hours at the Office of the City Tourism at the Sunken Garden or at the Office of the Barangay Affairs in City Hall.

Any entry should be original in tune and lyrics in chabacano with only guitar or organ accompaniment during the contest proper. It should be at least and not more than 3 minutes.

The entry should be submitted for the first time and was not considered as an entry in previous chabacano song festivals; submitted with accomplished entry form of the contest and submitted with the corresponding copy of the musical chords and lyrics of the song within the prescribed period.

Audition and final elimination will be on Sept. 29, 2008 (Sunday) at the Jardin Maria Clara in Pasonanca.

Actual contest will be on October 9, 2008 at the Garden Orchid Hotel. Prizes at stake are P10, 000 for the first prize; P5, 000 for the second prize and P3, 000 for the third prize. The owner of the entry that will be selected as best in composition will get a prize of P5, 000.

All entries are considered an official property of the city government as the organizer of the contest and that the decisions of the board of judges are considered final. (City Hall PIO) Read more...

Kinabayo Festival 2008

I just came from a 3-day vacation from Dapitan City, which is also known as the Shrine City of the South. Last July 25, 2008, Dapitan celebrated its annual Kinabayo Festival as part of the Feast of Señor Santiago or St. James.

Kinabayo Festival is a colorful celebration re-enacting the Spanish-Moorish wars, mainly the Battle of Covadonga where the Spanish forces under General Pelagio took their last stand against Saracan. They were able to overturn the tide through the miraculous spirit of St. James. The addition of local color and modernism has made this annual celebration a popular attraction which brings thousands of tourists to the Dapitan City.

The Festival was highlighted by a street dance and showdown which were participated by 3 teams. Barangay Bagting of Dapitan City bagged the grand prize.

Enjoy my pictures of the Festival Dance showdown held in Jose Rizal Memorial State College last July 25.

Read more...

"Dancing Inmates" perform Sinulog Dance

To give tribute to the patron saint of Cebu, the internationally known inmates of Cebu performed a sinulog dance. A request was made to allow the dancing inmates to perform in the Cebu Sports Complex but to no avail. Personally, I understand the point of the City Mayor for not approving the request. It's better to be safe than sorry.

Read more...

Pit Señor! Sinulog 2008

The world famous Sinulog Festival of Cebu has already started. My mom and sister is actually on their way to Cebu for the celebration. For them it is convenient because my brother lives in the city. As my tribute to the festival, below is a video of a Sinulog Festival dance performed by my students during the Atfest 07. For more information about the festival please visit http://www.sinulog.ph.

Photo courtesy of Sinulog Festival 2008 Website

Read more...

2nd Handuraw Festival

Dapitan City is again celebrating its Handuraw Festival. Handuraw Festival aims to remember the life of Dr. Jose Rizal's life while being exiled in Dapitan from 1892-1896. Unfortunately, I have scheduled commitments during the said celebration so I cannot get some photos and footage of the events. However, if your near Dapitan, try to join the events. Below is the schedule of events:

Day 1 (Thursday, December 27) - Registration of participants of the seminar/workshop Reaffirming the Teachings of Rizal's Virtues and Idealism;
Opening Parade - Parade of Floats on the Legacies of Dr. Rizal in Dapitan;
Opening Programs of Handuraw 2007; Opening Program of Seminar Workshop; Launching of the Book "The Dapitan Correspondence of Dr. Jose P. Rizal and Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt" Compiler: Former Congressman Romeo G. Jalosjos; Opening of the Booths of 'The 10 Anchor Destinations' ( One Barangay, One Product);
Opening of the Visual Arts Exhibit;
Start of the On the Spot Painting Lecture on "Rizal as an Artist" Lecturer: Mr. Christopher A. Rollo of the National Commission of Culture and Arts;
Mutya sa Handuraw 2007;

Day 2 (Friday, December 28) - Continuation of the Seminar/ Workshop; Dr. Jose Rizal In Dapitan;
Fluvial Parade;
Chorale & Rondalla Contest;

Day 3 (Saturday December 29) - Closing Program Seminar/Workshop;
Display of Paintings;
Street Dancing;
Showdown; Balak;
Initiation of New Members of the Knights of Rizal;
Fireworks. Read more...

Zamboanga Hesmosa Festival 2007 & Fiesta Pilar

I missed some of the events of the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival and Fiesta Pilar on October 12, 2007 because I was in Manila for a seminar.

photo courtesy of Jan Santos

One of the events during the festival is the Street Dance competition. Since Zamboanga changed it's promotional identity to being the Asia's Latin City, the Street Dance competition features costumes that mix the colors that reflects the vinta and the Hispanic inspired flowing skirts. The said festivity is similar to the Mardi Gras of the Latin countries.

Aside from missing the Street Dance Contest, I also missed the Fiesta Pilar. The fiesta is a tribute to the Lady of Pilar. My father is one of the devotees of the Lady of Pilar. He made a promise to light a candle in For Pilar every the fiesta. Since I am the only son who is based here in Zamboanga, I was the one who goes with him during fiestas to light candles. Unfortunately, I missed that this year.

There are still several activities that are on-going and will be conducted in the coming days. There are still time to catch up with the festivities. :) Read more...

Regatta de Zamboanga: Vinta Racing Contest

One of the highlights of the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival is the annual Vinta Racing Competition. During the competition, a number of colorful vintas line up the boulevard of Zamboanga City to take part in this fun event. I was glad to be there to capture the moment.

If you happen to visit Zamboanga during the Hermosa Festival, check the city's official website for the Vinta Racing competition. I assure you that you will enjoy the sight of these colorful sails which you can only see in Zamboanga.

Taken on October 7, 2007
R.T. Lim Boulevard, Zamboanga City






For more regatta pictures, please visit my Multiply gallery. Read more...