Tourists arrivals in the pilgrimage capital of the country, Antipolo City, are expected to increase as the city is set to hold its much anticipated float parade on April 6, Saturday, as part of the celebration of the 26th cityhood anniversary with this year’s theme, “Animezing Antipolo”.
An annual event that showcases colorful floats, this time with characters from the animation world or the so-called “anime”, the grand float parade is expected to attract more visitors, including the younger generation, who will spend their time in the city the whole day on April 6 to watch their favorite Japanese television and movie characters impersonated by the float parade participants.
Mar Bacani, head of the city government’s Antipolo City Culture Arts and Tourism Promotions Office, told Manila Bulletin that each of the city’s 16 villages will have its own unique float that carries the anime theme.
Private companies, including food stores and some schools based in the city, are also expected to join in the float parade as guest participants.
Bacani said the float parade is an annual competition joined by all the city’s villages and this year’s prizes are P200,000 for the grand winner; P150,000 for the second placer; and P100,000 for the third placer. The non-winners, the 13 villages, will each receive P50,000 as consolation prizes.
By this time, the barangays may have been busy decorating their respective float as the event has become an annual tourist attraction in the city during every cityhood anniversary celebration.
The event has also become a "bayanihan" activity as villagers contribute their time and skills in making their own float.
Television and movie personalities usually appear and join the float parade as surprise guests, according to some city hall personnel.
The cosplay contest will happen at 1 p.m. at the Antipolo City Hall Annex Building, with the winners receiving cash prizes ranging from P3,000 to P5,000.
The office of Mayor Casimiro "Junjun" Ynares III said after the cosplay contest at 1 p.m. the float parade will start from Sumulong Park to the Ynares Center.
The city government will announce a road closure and rerouting scheme for vehicles for Saturday as the parade is expected to result in the buildup of vehicular traffic in the city proper’s major thoroughfares due to thousands of spectators.