After two years of celebrating the “Singkaban Festival” in Bulacan online, people once again enjoyed the lively, colorful and jovial vibes of the occasion at the Provincial Capitol grounds on Thursday, Sept. 8.
Gov. Daniel R. Fernando led the opening of the grand celebration of the province’s rich culture and history in front of the Capitol Building in the City of Malolos. He was joined by Vice-Governor Alexis C. Castro, Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary Ferdinand "Cocoy" Jumapao, who represented DOT Secretary Maria Esperanza Christina Garcia Frasco; and hundreds of Bulakenyos.
Fernando thanked Frasco and Jumapao and all the visitors who attended the Singkaban Festival 2022, including the Bulacan provincial board members; mayors and vice mayors; representative of Bulacan districts; Bulacan Philippine National Police (PNP) headed by the newly appointed officer-in-charge Col. Relly B. Arnedo; members of Bulacan Veterans Association; representatives of the Department of Education (DepEd), National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Boy Scout and Girl Scout of the Philippines and Bulacan Chamber of Commerce.
Local and international tourists are expected to come to witness the weeklong celebration of the festival in Bulacan with the theme “Patuloy na Pagsikhay Tungo sa Tagumpay”.
Well-crafted bamboo arches, popularly known as “Singkaban”, are seen all over the province, particularly in the historic capital, City of Malolos.
The weeklong activity kicked-off with a Holy Mass in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the patron saint at the Basilica Minore (formerly the Malolos Cathedral).
The celebration will culminate on Sept. 15 in commemoration of the Malolos Congress anniversary at the historic Barasoain Church.
The main event of the festival was the street dance and float parade depicting the province’s glorious past where representatives from different Bulacan towns, as far as San Jose del Monte in the southeast and San Miguel in the north, traveled to Malolos for the festival.
Meanwhile, costumes portraying Bulakenyo heroes, patriots, national artists, and personalities are on display at the Robinsons Place Malolos for the “Bulacan Festival Costume Expo” from Sept. 8 to 15.
The Andrew Alto De Guzman’s 4th One-Man Art Exhibition titled “Homage: 30 Years of Art” also opened on the same day and will run until Sept. 30 at the Guillermo E. Tolentino Hall, Hiyas Museum in Malolos City.