"Halad Inasal" parade to be held tomorrow

CEBU, Philippines - The popular Halad Inasal Festival parade in Talisay City will be held tomorrow and not Monday, which is the celebration of the annual feast of its patroness Santa Teresa de Avila.

City administrator Richel Bacaltos said the organizers have decided to reset the date from October 15 to October 14 to prevent disturbing the flow of traffic as experienced in previous celebrations when the parade was held on the feast day of Sta. Teresa de Avila.

Bacaltos also said it was decided that the religious celebration be separated from the festival celebration.

This year, seven contingents will participate in the street dancing category. They will come from public and private schools.

The festival will start with street dancing at 1 p.m. to kick off at the city hall.

From there, the contingents will dance their way to the Cebu South Coastal Road, passing barangay Dumlog and to Talisay City National High School grounds where the contingents will present their final performance.

Unlike in the previous year, no floats will be parading this time.

Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez and other Talisay City officials, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu Province, 1st district), Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas, and Rep. Pablo John Garcia will attend the festival.

Talisay City is known for its tasty lechon.

In 2001, then Talisay City mayor Gullas established the Inasal Festival to promote the city’s specialty.

Since then, the Inasal Festival has been a highlight in the city’s annual fiesta celebration. (FREEMAN)