NAGA CITY --Mayor Jesse M. Robredo, Armita B. Rufino of the Filipino Heritage Festival, Inc. (FHFI) and Ana Maria ‘Bambi’ Harper of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) will be the main presentors during the formal launch and press conference of the 2009 Filipino Heritage Festival on April 15, at Almacenas Reales in Fort Santiago, Manila.
Naga City has been chosen as the kick-off venue for the annual festival that will usher in the nationwide celebration of the Filipino Heritage Month, in consonance with Presidential Proclamation No. 439 declaring May each year as National Heritage Month.
The country holds nationwide month-long celebrations that are centered on heritage. Among the activities lined-up for the Naga event is the opening to the public of the Museo Seminario Conciliar for the Historico-Clerico Exhibits starting at 9:00 o’clock in the morning of April 29.
A huge production of Bikol student performing artists from the cities of Naga and Iriga will highlight the first day of the opening activities of the Filipino Heritage Festival in Naga City.
Dubbed “Bikol Cultural Night” and with the theme “Awit at Sayaw sa Maogmang Lugar”, the performing arts presentation will take center stage at the storied Naga Metropolitan Cathedral, providing as additional backdrop the brick-columned Iberian-Moorish façade of the ancient Holy Rosary Minor Seminary on one side and the colonial-type Archbishop’s Palace just across the street on the other.
The song and dance extravaganza will be capped by a magical fireworks display, courtesy of the Department of Tourism. A special late night dinner of sumptuous Filipino and Bikolano dishes will be tendered for the guests at a local restaurant along the vibrant strip of Magsaysay Avenue.
Naga, founded as a Spanish royal city in 1573 then known as Ciudad de Caceres, has been chosen by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Filipino Heritage Festival. Inc. (FHFI) to be the kick-off venue of the annual nationwide festival. The Naga City Visitors Center has been commissioned by the city Mayor to set the stage for the twoday festivity that will showcase the splendor and distinct character of Bikol cultural heritage through its festivals, dance and music.
“The Bikol Cultural Night will be lavished with performances by leading critically-acclaimed and award winning cultural and performing arts groups from the top universities and colleges in and out of Naga City,” the mayor said.
On the second night, the Naga audience will be dazzled and pampered with a fashion show entitled “Gubing Guibong Naga”.
Musical scoring of the two-hour show will be rendered by Tambol Sorsogon and Pangkat Kawayan of FEU Manila amidst the green lawn of the white colonial Almeda mansion in Abella Street. Pangkat Kawayan, an ensemble of 27 young musicians uses instruments such as: Lira Gabang, Tonic Gabang (Alto & Tenor), Bamboo Marimba (Talunggati), Alugtog and Angklung (Tipangklung) for its repertoire of Filipino music, including as finale piece the Bikolano song, “Sarung Banggi”.
The dresses will be paraded by pretty Bikolana models with designs executed by well-known local couturiers Ariel Alvarez and Junn Roa. With stage design by Russel Sinfuego, the fashion gala will interpret into haute couture the colorful weave and tapestry of people, art, culture and nature.
Other events include wreathlaying at Plaza Quince Martires, groundbreaking for the proposed Plaza Ciudad de Caceres at Padian Street, historico-clerico exhibits, lectures by Prof. Jun de Leon of UP and the NCCA and Bikolano historiographer Jose V. Barrameda. There will also be heritage tours and a Carera de Sintas at Plaza Quezon.
During the festival, various events are held on specific dates in the month of May in different parts of the country including Legazpi, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Pampanga, Bulacan, Ilocos, and Metro Manila. (naga.gov.ph)