This year, planning and preparations for the 6th BUHAYANI FESTIVAL and the 158th Dr. Jose P. Rizal Birth Anniversary commemoration started much earlier compared to previous years.
The events committee wanted to make a stronger impact not only aiming for the Pearl Award presented by DOT and ATOP to highly deserving Local Government Units with exemplary festivals, but instilling more deeply the spirit of heroism inspired by Dr. Jose Rizal.
With the Buhayani Festival being in its iron year, the city is highlighting the most well-known of this metal’s attributes: strength. As such, even as early as March, numerous sponsors and festival partners have already given their pledges of support for a bigger and stronger Buhayani Festival.
Mayor Timmy Chipeco, the Father of Buhayani Festival, together with the festival committee, added activities to attract more competitors and spectators from a wider sector of our society: CalamBangka for our fisherfolks and those whose livelihood depends on Laguna Lake; Spoken Word Poetry
with musical accompaniment for the millennials with their famous hugot lines; and the Kundiman Singing Contest, so that appreciation for our traditional love songs will be revived in the heart of the present generation.
Surprises await participants and guests in this year’s Baile sa Bayan ni Pepe, the city’s take on the traditional Baile de Gala. Meanwhile, on its 6th year the Buhayani Bike Festival, under the helm of PEPEDAL, promises a more exciting race with the use of the newly established Motocross RaceTrack in Brgy. Bunggo.
Pupils from upland barangays will be given the chance to visit the Museo ni Jose Rizal sa Calamba, where our National Hero and kababayan Dr. Jose Rizal lived. The highlight of the museum visit is the story telling session about the life and works of our other local heroes like BGen. Vicente Lim and Capt. Geronimo M. Aclan. As in the past years, elected officials headed by Mayor Timmy Chipeco and Vice Mayor Ross Rizal will serve as story tellers. A bigger and better gastronomic experience will be brought to you by the Salu-salo ng Aning Calambeňo. More flavorful treats to excite the palate will be brought by the different barangays of the city.
Making a comeback this year is the colourful and high flying Saranggolahan ni Pepe. It will be sure to give the spectators a natural high as they watch
beautiful kites cavorting in the sky.
The highlight of the Buhayani Festival is the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Birth Anniversary commemoration on June 19. It will start with the traditional early morning floral offering at five historic monuments of our national hero followed by a program at the Museo ni Rizal sa Calamba. The Symbolic Float Competition with this year’s theme “Rizal’s Travel” will be in the afternoon. It will also include the Street Dancing Competition and the Biggest Delegation in Rizal Costume. With the numerous activities scheduled this year, the City Government and the Festival Executive Management Committee of the Buhayani Festival are expecting bigger crowds compared to its previous celebrations.
This year’s schedule of activities and mechanics are also available at the Tourism Office at the FB account of City of Calamba Tourism, Kalan+Banga and Calamba Info.
