70,000 people attend Tigtigan festival in Angeles City
ANGELES CITY, Philippines – More than 70,000 people attended the two-night dusk-till-dawn revelry along the 1.5 kilometer stretch of MacArthur Highway during the weekend when this city celebrated the “19th Tigtigan, Terakan Keng Dalan (TTKD)” festival.
“It was another year of tremendous success,” Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said of the street dancing festival.
Pamintuan said the street party held October 28 and 29 was a blast as the weather was excellent, with just a bit of chill in the air to help revelers cool off while touring the street party strip.
Former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri graced the said festival and was surprised by the reception the street party was getting.
“The crowd speaks for itself. Ang laki pala ng event na ito… tinatangkilik ng napakaraming tao. Kakaiba itong event na inorganize ng city government ninyo and it’s something, that I think, Angeleños should be proud of.”
“The event is a good tourism attraction for Angeles City and I congratulate Mayor Pamintuan for starting and continuing the popular festival,” he added.
Various events highlighted TTKD 2011 where local and national bands and performers played their sets to the endless stream of live music. Additional attractions included several booths where different kinds of entertainment such as video games, photo ops and challenges treated local and foreign revelers.
This year’s event was held in partnership with the Angeles City Kuliat Jaycees and the Balibago Business Establishments Association.
The Angeles City Tourism Office, City Information Office, the City Engineer’s Office, Environmental Management Service, General Services Office, City Treasurer’s Office, City Health Office, Ospital Ning Angeles, Barangay Balibago and Bureau of Fire Protection – all participated in the endeavor to make the celebration a complete success.
This year’s two-day celebration was relatively peaceful as the Angeles City Police Office detailed hundreds of cops, army reservists and even local barangay “tanods” to secure every section of the long street-party strip and ascertain patrons that no untoward incidents would take place.
Security personnel including the 2nd Air Force Reserve from Philippine Air Force-Clark, Angeles City Police Office, Angeles City Bureau of Fire and barangay police of Balibago, Kabalikat Civicom and blue guards all pitched in to keep the celebration a peaceful and secured event.
Started in 1992, TTKD was conceptualized by Pamintuan to give the Angeleños a glimmer of hope after the city was ravaged by the wrath of Mt. Pinatubo. The TTKD spirit has helped Angeles City and its people rise from the ashes that once buried it.
It is one unique way of battling the adversity that has befallen the city during those times of hardship and trial. TTKD is one testament to the undying spirit and unfazed attitude of the Angeleños.
It is a festival that celebrates the kind of life that has characterized and ought to characterize the people of Angeles.
“Like a phoenix rising above the ashes,” as Pamintuan quipped, Angeles City’s TTKD has become a meaningful event and a pride of the city.
TTKD is part of Angeles City’s month long celebration of Fiestang Kuliat, the city’s twin fiesta celebration of La Naval and the Feast of Apu Mamacalulu where, by the leadership of Pamintuan, Vice Mayor Vicky Vega Cabigting, the City Council and the Fiestang Kuliat Committee Vice Chairman Alexander Cauguiran, a total of 42 events were successfully conducted in a span of 31 days. (Deo Sambilay/CIO)
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