With its cold weather and beautiful natural scenic views, the town of Tanay continues to be among the favorite destinations of local tourists in Rizal Province.
During the celebration of the 417th Founding Anniversary and 13th Hane Festival, hundreds of local tourists including balikbayans or former Tanay residents who are residing abroad, visited the town to celebrate the annual event and experience the festivities that the municipal government had prepared.
The office of Mayor Rafael “Lito” Tanjuatco said the town’s culture, history, arts, love of sports and the residents’ hospitality and ingenuity were highlighted during the festival that was celebrated from Nov. 10 to 12.
Art exhibits, photography and video contests and indigenous sports exhibits were among the events that were showcased by the local government during the annual festival.
The town residents' love for sports, particularly ‘Sikaran’, a traditional martial arts introduced by the locals in Tanay and neighboring municipalities of Baras and Morong during the pre-Spanish occupation, was also part of the celebration with a competition held during the three-day event.
Municipal Administrator Jeff Pino said the municipal government’s all-out support to the Sikaran sports in the town earned the local government the recognition as the grand winner in recently held Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) Pearl Awards 2023.
Cultural parade joined by the town’s youth was also a crowd magnet during the event.
A car show participated in by local and visitor motor sports enthusiasts was a big success as it gathered tourists, particularly sports lovers, during the activity, according to Councilor Gel Pitoral.
Food lovers from within and outside the town trooped to the town plaza to satisfy their taste buds as food bazaars participated in the annual festivities.
Local tourists are also visiting the municipal building’s quadrangle especially during the night as lights glitter the area.