The city government of Parañaque opened the “Sunduan Dolls” exhibit as part of the 25th cityhood anniversary on Feb. 13.
Mayor Eric Olivarez said the exhibition of dolls dressed and designed with colorful Barong Tagalog and Maria Clara costumes, which was participated in by 16 barangays, was held at Ayala Malls, Manila Bay n Monday, Feb. 6.
Olivarez said aside from the “Sunduan Dolls” exhibit, a dress fashion show of “Ginoo and Binibining Parañaque” participants was also held.
He said five villages in the city won in the “Sunduan Dolls” exhibition. They are Barangays San Dionisio, 5th place; Marcelo Green, 4th place; Tambo, 3rd place; Sun Valley, 2nd place, and San Isidro, 1st place.
The mayor said Department of Tourism-National Capital Region (DOT-NCR) Regional Director Sharlene Batin and tourism officers Paul Ahljay San Miguel of Las Piñas City, Gie Serrano of Navotas City, Cathy Poblete of Mandaluyong City served as judges during the activity.
Olivarez said Sunduan is a tradition in Parañaque that depicts the act of a man fetching the object of his affection from the woman’s home to church or the town plaza.
To impress his lady love and her folks, the gentleman brings with him a marching band that accompanies their walk along the community and towards the church.
The first Sunduan was recorded in 1876 in Barrio La Huerta, and the practice later spread to nearby Barrio San Dionisio in 1890 during the Spanish colonial period.