Maribago revives Guitar Festival

CEBU, Philippines - After the success of the recent re-launching of the Guitar Festival in Barangay Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City, barangay officials assured more improvements next year.

Maribago Barangay Captain Joseph Pangatungan said the success made possible because of the support of the Department of Education, private sector and non-governmental organizations.

Pangatungan said the barangay council had already passed an ordinance declaring Guitar Festival as an official festival in Barangay Maribago.

According to Pangatungan, guitar making is close to the heart of the people in the barangay since some of the professionals in their place are products of guitar-making industry.

Barangay Councilor Rosalino Abing, the chairman of the Guitar Festival and the brainchild of the festival, said despite the problems they encountered during the preparations, last Sunday's festival was a success.

Councilor Abing said more improvements will be introduced next year.

The same observation was also aired by Councilors Arvin Abing and Gerardo Augusto.

Both Abing and Augusto said the partnership of the barangay and the private sector played an important role in the success of  the festival.

Guitar-making is one of the livelihoods of the residents in Barangay Maribago, although some of them are dependent on fishing and working in the different beach resorts in the barangay.    

The participating schools to the Guitar Festival included Datag Elementary School, Buyong Elementary School, Maribago High School and Rizwoods Colleges. — Jose P. Sollano (FREEMAN)