Handuraw Festival 2015 and Rizal Day Celebrated in Dapitan City

Rizal's Landing Site, the "Punto de

Desembarco de Rizal en Dapitan" where

he set his first step in the shores of Dapitan.

 

DAPITAN CITY (Dec. 30, 2015) --- The City of Festivals is just one among the many brandings of Dapitan City mainly because it has six festivals to date, City Tourism Official said.

Currently, City Tourism Officer Apple Marie Agolong said, Dapitanons are celebrating its 6th festival dubbed as "Handuraw Festival" which commenced last December 28 and ended today as the whole nation celebrated Rizal Day.

Agolong said Local Government Officials held the celebration at the Rizal Shrine itself which recently completed the first phase of maintenance repairs, construction of its museum and other developments funded by the National Historical Institute.

The keynote speaker is RTC Judge Jose Rene G. Dondoyano.

Agolong said "Handuraw," a Cebuano term which means flashback or recommitment to memory, is one of the two major festivals among the six festivals of the Shrine City of the Philippines which is Dapitan City.

Agolong added that Handuraw is being held annually not only to commemorate the national hero’s death but also to promote Dapitan and its booming tourism industry.

“It merges historical, cultural, social and economic elements related to Rizal’s life in Dapitan, she disclosed.

She said the festival activities include a Motorcade, an Opening Program, Field Demonstration, Search for Little Miss Dapitan, Seminar-Workshop on Rizal’s teachings and a Floral Offering among others.

She said Dapitanons consider Rizal’s exile in their community as a unique element to bring Dapitan City to where it should be in the limelight of Philippine Tourism Map as a place so rich in history which no other place could replicate, coupled with the beauty of its vast natural resources.

City Tourism Officer Apple Marie A. Agolong Sitting

from lett to right: Councilor Amalou Monroyo, Vice

Mayor Ruben E. Cad, Councilor Alemarlo Dagpin,

Former Mayor and Heritage Consultant Patri Chan,

Mr. Jasmin Hamoy, Rizal Shrine Curator Mr. Gabriel

Cad, JRMSU VP Dr. Rey Venezuela, Councilor Alexander

Estacio, Councilor Manuel Estrella and DepEd Supervisor

Mr. Nick Malacat

The City Tourism Officer also said that Vice Mayor Ruben E. Cad who was the highest City Official in attendance together with Councilors Alemarlo Dagpin, Alexander Estacio, Amalou Monroyo and ManuelEstrella; Former Mayor Patri Chan who is now the Consultant for Heritage Affairs and is the Chair of this year's Handuraw Festival, and together with the Smart Communications Incorporated hope that people all over the country who loves our national hero will finally have their time to attend the festival and join in the celebration because after all this is the place where our national hero spent the most colorful years of his life and practiced his versatility as a person!.
(By JONG CADION)