The monsoon weather did not dampen the spirits of the San Josenos of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan to celebrate the rising city’s 8th Tanglawan Festival 2023 after three years of lull due to pandemic.
To make up for the silent three years, the September 1-10 celebration kicked off with a bang with a flamboyant program capped with a fashion show on the opening day, boasting not only the city’s colourful culture and tradition but proudly showcasing the trails of the San Josenos.
Held at the SJdM City Sports Complex, the grand opening featured the signature dance created by The Powerdance with 400 dancers mostly students from different schools in San Jose del Monte to the tune of the new music theme song composed by Ato del Rosario, a former member of the UP Madrigal Singers.
The top-notch performances of Kapamilya’s darling Darren Espanto, Kapuso’s Jillian Ward, AC Bonifacio and JM Bales and actor-dancer Paul Salas hosted by Robi Domingo brought the house down as the audience roared with thrills and shouts each time their favorite star comes out.
One of the event’s highlights was the fashion show with a theme “Tanglawan ng Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas” featuring the unique works of Vinia Romero, a new designer from San Jose del Monte with her 11 indigenous Dumagat ensemble punctuated by the accessories of Arnel Papa, the grandiose collections of Philippines fashion icon Francis Libiran, a Bulakenyo who hails from Balagtas, Bulacan. According to Glenn de Jesus, the overall festival director, this year’s Tanglawan Festival featured a fashion show to inspire and motivate new designers in the city.
With their mantra, “Tanglaw Ko, Bukas Mo, Mananatiling Bulakenyo, YES TO HUC!” the residents ands guest were treated to a week-long fun and cultural nostalgia. There were about 1,900 teachers (teaching and non-teaching) from DepEd who participated in the festival.
The week-long activities included:
Sept 2 (Saturday)– Cultural Fashion Exhibit from 10a.m. at SM San Jose del Monte Atrium; Arya! Highly-urbanized City! Arya! Arya-Aryahan Streetdance Competition 5 p.m. CSJDM Athletic & Recreational Center (Grounds)
Sept. 3 (Sunday) – Zumbarangkada HUC … Hataw Na! 4 p.m. River Park Splanade
Sept. 4 (Monday) – Indak Parangal Kay San Jose 4pm St. Joseph The Worker Parish
Sept. 5 (Tuesday) – Gabi Ng Parangal (Gawad Parangal) Rigodon De Honor Gala Night 5 p.m. Grand Ballroom, City Convention
Sept. 6 (Wednesday) – Investors Day 8 a.m. City Convention Center
Tanglawan Unity Walk ‘Home of United Council’ ‘Ang Kabataan ang Tanglaw ng Pag-Asa’ 4 p.m. parking area, Starmall SJDM
Sept. 7 (Thursday) – Lipad San Jose – Hot Air Balloon 10 a.m. Starmall SJDM
Sept. 8 (Friday) – Pithaya Kay Maria (8th Marian Exhibit) 4 p.m. Starmall SJDM
Sept. 9 (Saturday) – Rank to Highly Urbanized City (Pasasalamat Arangkada San Joseno)
Ginuman Concert, Drone Show, Pyromusical Show, 3 p.m. City Sports Complex (Open Grounds)
Car Show 5 p.m. Savano Park
Sept. 10 (Sunday) – Padyak Sikad Sa High Urbanized City 5 a.m. Starmall SJDM Citywide Loop
As in the past years since its launching in 2016, this year’s festival was spearheaded by the city government’s power couple Mayor Arthur Robes and his lovely wife Congresswoman Florida P. Robes. This year’s festival also commemorated the San Jose Del Monte’s cityhood on September 10, 2000.
Congresswoman Rida said that Tanglawan Festival’s name was derived from the word “ilaw” or “light” to heighten the genuine revelry of the locals as they work hand-in-hand toward a Highly Urbanized City they are trying to achieve.
She takes pride that the Festival still holds the two Guiness World Records as the “World’s Largest Lantern Parade” conferred to the city in 2017 and in 2019.
The beauteous congresswoman also added that the city has been consistently awarded the Most Sustainable and Livable City Award this year and the city has been recognized as full member to the International Council for Local Environmental Initiative.
As a lone representative of her district, Congresswoman Rida has authored bills with national and local significance during the 19th Congress. Some important legislations she passed were: an act providing for the magna carta of barangay health workers; an act establishing the use of ecological waste to energy management system; an act providing a magna carta for public disaster risk and emergency responders; and an act instituting an elderly employment system.
Should San Jose Del Monte be converted to a Highly Urbanized City, Mayor Robes said that the city will attract more investors that will boost the economy as it will create more jobs not only for the San Josenos but also for the people near the component cities and other municipalities of Bulacan.
He narrated that they will have a direct and proportionate share in the national tax allotment. “We will no longer compete with other cities and municipalities in the province. The increase in funds that will flow from the national government will mean more government funds allotted for the improvement in quality of health, education, infrastructure, environmental protection and other services.
The power couple of San Jose Del Monte declared that “Tanglawan Festival” will always be an annual festivity and one of the tourism activities one could always expect every September—defying rainshowers and monsoon weather— as it symbolizes the torch guiding San Jose del Monte.
Cong. Rida concluded: “While during the time of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., San Jose del Monte was a site for relocation, now we can declare with pride, San Jose del Monte is a destination. #from relocation,now a destination!”
