Toledo marks annual fiesta on Saturday

CEBU, Philippines - Toledo City Mayor Arlene Zambo and Vice Mayor Aurelio Espinosa have assured that the city’s annual fiesta on Saturday will be a memorable one.

The city is celebrating its annual thanksgiving in honor of its patron saint, St. John of Sahagun.

The 12-day commemoration started last June 1 with a celebrity basketball exhibition sponsored by Cebu third district Pablo John Garcia in cooperation with the Department of Public Works and Highways-Cebu 3rd Engineering District.

As part of the fiesta celebration, the Miss Toledo Foundation Inc. and the city government conducted the search for Miss Toledo 2010. Fourteen candidates are vying for the title.

The coronation is set for today at the Barba Sports Complex with celebrity guests Jon Avila and Luningning.

In the afternoon on June 12, the third Hinulawan Festival will be held. Hinulawan, which is the old name of the city, is a contraction of two Cebuano words - HIN from Hinaguan and ULAWAN from Bulawan.

Four Golden Features of the city are highlighted in the festival namely: Golden Harvest, Golden Friendship, Golden Treasure and Golden Faith.

The festival has five contingents – Consolatrix College, Toledo National Vocational School, Barangay Awihao, Luray II National High (Day and Night) Schools, and University of the Visayas (UV) Toledo Campus – competing for various awards. Special guest will be actor Gerald Anderson.

At 8:00 p.m., the thanksgiving and victory concert will be staged with the Freestyle Band.

The celebration starts and ends with the nine-day prayer in honor of St. John of Sahagun led by Rev. Father Rolando Manayon, the parish priest.

The concelebrated Pontifical Mass will be offered by Bishop Emilio Bataclan on June 12 at 9:30 a.m. at St. John of Sahagun shrine.

Last May, the Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution thanking Woodstock, Georgia Mayor Donnie Henriquez and other city officials for accepting the twin relationship between Toledo City and Woodstock City.

The sisterhood pact was made through the efforts of John Drake, benefactor of Toledo City Lingap Center.

The signing of the sisterhood agreement will be made soon. — THE FREEMAN