Students Perform Colorful Street Dances in 2019 Sillag Festival

Seven teams composed of around 500 students were gathered in a light-emitting street dancing competition held as part of the festivities of the 2019 Sillag Poro Point Festival of Lights on April 6 at the Poro Point Baywalk, here.

The activity organized by the Poro Point Management Corporation (PPMC) is aimed to involve the education sector in the activities for the SILLAG festival which promotes the area as one of the tourism hubs in the northern part of the country.

“Our Festival of Lights is already a mark in the northern Philippines. This competition has been running for eight years now and has always included the academe as our partners,” said PPMC President Atty. Felix Racadio during the event.

“I want to extend my appreciation to the students, their parents, and teachers for continuously supporting festival activities every year,” Racadio added.

The participating schools from the town of La Union included Cambaly National High School of Bagulin, Northern Naguilian National High School (NNNHS), Caba National High School and Santiago Elementary School, Catbangen Elementary School, Saint Louis College (SLC), and La Union National High School (LUNHS) of this city.

The NNNHS was declared as the champion bringing home a trophy and a cash prize of P60,000. Delegates from SLC and LUNHS won second and third place, respectively and likewise received trophies and cash prizes.

All the participating schools received a subsidy of P50,000 each to be used on the preparations for the said event.

“Our teachers encouraged us to join this competition to develop our talents and skills in performing, so win or lose, at least we enjoyed each other’s company and the activities that the festival offered,” said grade 8 student and street dancing participant Isagani Costales of LUNHS.

Other highlighted activities slated during the 3-day event from April 5 to 7 were bonsai and suiseki competitions, launching of the La Union-Batanes tour package, journalism contests, car and children’s show, airplane exhibition and airport open-house tour, pyrotechnic-musical display, float parade and many other activities that tourists could enjoy and participate.

Local businesses also established a mini trade and food fair on the area to cater to the food needs of tourists.

This year, the PPMC estimated a crowd influx, both local and international tourists, of over a hundred thousand and hopes to continue with the program in the following years to show the improvements made at the Baywalk area and to further encourage investors.

The PPMC is a subsidiary of the Bases Conversion Development Authority established to manage the development of the Poro Point Freeport Zone (PPFZ). (JNPD/ AHFF/PIA-1)