Zamboanga City gears up for Hermosa Festival 2010

MANILA, Philippines –  Zamboanga City gears up for a full-blast celebration of Hermosa Festival 2010 in October to mark the feast of Nuestra Señora de la Virgen del Pilar, patroness of Zamboanga, Asia’s Latin City.

With the theme “Celebracion en grande, Adelante, Zamboanga (Grand celebration, forward Zamboanga),” the city’s grandest festival highlights its unique blend of multi-cultural heritage.

It is an all encompassing and complete festival that culminates on the 12th day of October, the feast day of Nuestra Señora de La Virgen del Pilar, the city’s most revered patroness.

Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat said WOW Zamboanga, a showcase of the best of the best of the city’s 98 barangays, will be held nightly at the Paseo del Mar seaside promenade from 6 p.m. onwards from Oct. 1 to 8; a trade fair and exhibit on Oct. 1-15 at the Plaza Pershing; and an art exhibit featuring Zamboangueño talents on Oct. 1-31 at the Garden Orchid Hotel.

Other events include the 27th Chabacano Song Festival; a dance sport competition year 8; the Wow Sardinas, Lifestyle Zamboanga; the Mascota competition; the Mayor Celso Lobregat Golf Tournament Year 6; Regatta de Zamboanga; floral float parade; street dance competition and the main program on Oct. 11 with Tourism Secretary Albert Lim as guest of honor.

Lobregat said he is inviting Filipinos to visit Zamboanga City during the Hermosa Festival. “Please come witness and take part in the celebration, visit the booths, hang out in the parks, watch the shows and presentations,” Lobregat said.

“But amid the fun and excitement, the parties and the merriment, let us find time to reflect and thank the Lord Almighty and Nuestra Señora de La Virgen del Pilar for the many blessings and for the guidance and protection all through the years,” he said.

“These different events intend to give honor, pay our homage and extend our gratitude for the benevolence and generosity of Our Lady,” Lobregat added.

Spicing up the celebration are the different events sponsored by private groups and individuals that include the Sarah Geronimo concert on Oct. 1 at the Summit Center, Miss Zamboanga Pageant, Little Miss Universe-2010 competition, Open Motocross exhibition and competition, Night Market at the La Vista del Mar on Oct. 5-9 and many more.

Meanwhile, former Western Mindanao regional tourism director Ric San Juan announced that this year’s Hermosa Festival will include activities specially dedicated to the Zamboangueño balikbayans, overseas workers and returning “compoblanos” from other cities and provinces nationwide.

San Juan, who is now the coordinator of the Vamos a Zamboanga group, said these are the Fiesta Zamboangueño Balikbayan Night, a project of Rep. Beng Climaco-Salazar, on Oct. 9 at the Rigodon Ballroom of Hacienda de Palmeras, and the Vamos a Zambofreeport discovery tour of the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority on Oct. 10.

Hermosa Festival 2010 will not only be sizzling with fun-filled gimmicks this year but will also be marked as “D-day” for two exciting add-ons: the completion of the improvement phase of the city’s most popular attraction, the Paseo del Mar, and the opening of the newest pasalubong center, the Plaza del Pilar.