By Mar Supnad
BALANGA CITY, Bataan --The streets of Balanga City turned into a huge dance floor Monday afternoon as hundreds of participants joined the Banga Festival street dancing competition.
Nine groups and eight floats entertained the crowd to open the annual Pistang Balangueño themed “Da Best ng Balanga, Kahanga-hanga,” one of the several programs prepared by Mayor Francis Garcia to titillate the public.
In Camp Tolentino, Headquarters of the PNP, some 1,500 residents of the Province of Bataan joined the Zumba Dance with the stars-themed “Sayaw ng Pagbabago”.
Proceeds of the activity will finance reformation centers and support the rehabilitation of drug reformists in the province.
The Bataan Police Provincial Office led by Police Senior Supt. Marcelo Dayag organized the fitness dance in partnership with Bataan Anti-Drug Abuse Council and local government units.
“It took us two months to organize the Zumba dance,” said Col Dayag after the successful launching of the dance.
Actresses Arny Ross and Ashley Rivera led the Zumba Dance with the themed Sayaw ng Pagbabago to show support for the anti-illegal drug campaign of the Philippine National Police.
Also in the dance were Pilar town Mayor Alice Pizarro, Samal Mayor Generosa dela Fuente and Metro Bataan Development Authority chief Charlie Pizarro. The activity was participated in by government personnel, PNP, non-government organizations, media and others.
“There is no better time to change than now, Jansel Paulino, who used to be a drug user and pusher in Davao City, said.
Paulino, who has recovered and is now living in the Province of Bataan, gave an inspirational message during the Zumba Dance and told drug reformists the many reasons to live a better life without dependence on illegal drugs.