COB’s ‘triumphs’ cap Banga Fest 2017

Another ‘Banga Festival’ ended with a bang as Balangueños celebrated this year with the theme “Banga ng Karunungan, Kasayahan, at Kagandahan, Pagyamanin!”
Though the Banga Festival covers a whole month, it highlights only a few special events like the Mutya ng Lungsod ng Balanga Pageant.
For the duration of Banga Festival 2017, the City Tourism Office had organized a total of 12 events, excluding those organized by the city’s private cooperators.
An Excellent Start
Plaza Mayor was once again dotted with booths featuring Balanga’s local products when Banga Festival formally started on April 3. Small-scale entrepreneurs from all over Bataan joined this year’s trade fair, making it more special than the previous ones.
Since Banga Festival coincides with the weeklong 75th Day of Valor commemoration, the series of parades started as early as April 8. Each of Bataan’s municipalities decorated a parade float as tribute to war veterans in a program held at the Bataan Provincial Capitol.
Former Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro was one of Bataan’s guests of honor during the Day of Valor commemoration. It was Teodoro’s first public appearance after the 2010 national elections.
Aside from the Day of Valor events, the Philippine Red Cross linked arms with the city government to host the 3rd ‘Dugong Bayani’ bloodletting drive at Plaza Mayor.
‘Banga ng Karunugan, Kasayahan, at Kagandahan’
The Mutya ng Lungsod ng Balanga pageant, Banga Festival’s main event, saw a tight competition among Balanga’s most glamorous ladies.
Mikhaela Baluyot won against 14 other candidates who competed in various categories. Shanda Nhaye Mangalindan, MJ Osayan, Maria Cressy Zia Arnoco, and Jessi Mari Ann Arnas won as first, second, third, and fourth runner-ups.
Baluyot’s victory was sealed when she responded in the question-and-answer portion. Asked who she would want to be like, if given the chance, Baluyot said that she would like to be Mayor Francis Anthony S. Garcia for a day. She went on, saying that she would like to experience caring for her fellow Balangueños.
Other pageants were held in other evenings, like the Ginang Balangueña and Ms. OFW.
Celebrating Balanga’s Victories
During the 2017 Street Dancing Competition, Mayor Garcia said that Balangueños should celebrate and cherish the city.
He also encouraged everyone to appreciate the transition that the city has experienced over the years, especially its journey to the University Town vision.
From the start of his leadership, Mayor Garcia has made it clear that he would sustain all reforms in the city. The mayor even initiated his own brand of change, through his efforts to elevate the youth and education sector. Foremost in his education-related projects was the Barangay Learning Hub (BLH), a free, community-based facility for individualized learning. The BLH has also been established in schools in the form of School Learning Hub. |Arli Atienza