6th Sillag Festival All Set on April 7-9

It’s all systems go for the La Union’s Sillag Festival of Lights set from April 7 to 9 at the Poro Point Freeport Zone here.

Now on its sixth year, main organizer Poro Point Management Corporation (PPMC) said the three-day event and the much awaited festival in the province would once again entice not only La Union residents but also tourists.

Newly-installed PPMC officer-in-charge Atty. Felix S. Racadio said that new and exciting activities are lined up for this year’s festival.

“It is not only aimed to surpass the 120,000 participants last year but more importantly, the event would seek to provide inclusive economic boost here in the region and the province, especially to locals,” said Racadio.

Daria Mingaracal, provincial director of the Department of Trade and Industry-La Union, said that some 70 local small and medium enterprises will be joining the “Sillag Delights,” the Trade and Food Fair that will showcase different native food and products in the province.

“We are targeting a wider increase in livelihood impact this year, as this event has become a good avenue for their product exposure, and free promotion with an end goal of becoming saleable,” Mingaracal said adding that the trade fair last year collected a total of P2 million sales.

Ma. Victoria De Guzman Soriano, PPMC vice president for Human Resources and Administration, said that the Best Dressed Booth award will be given to the locator with the most creative and illuminated booth design.

“The design must also depict the rich marine resources of La Union,” Soriano said.

Meanwhile, La Union Provincial Information and Tourism Officer Adamor Dagang said that in terms of tourism impact of Sillag Festival, they have noted an estimated 15 to 18 percent increase of tourism arrival in the previous years.

Highlights of this year’s 6th Sillag Festival of Lights include Sunset Run For Hope (Fun Run), lighting of Sillag Village, releasing of a thousand paper lanterns, pyromusical show, children’s show, concerts, and various competitions such as street-dancing, sports, bonsai competition, art contest, among others.

SILLAG is initiated by the PPMC, in partnership with the provincial government of La Union, City Government of San Fernando, Thunderbird Resorts, Association of Tourism and Industry Network of the City (ATIN) and various government agencies. (JNPD/MPA/PIA-1, La Union)