By Gladys Pino/PNA
DASMARIÑAS CITY, Cavite — The city government here is bringing back the parade of floats during this year’s butterfly-inspired “Paru-Paro Festival” on November 26.
City Tourism head Red C. Alano, in an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Tuesday, said that aside from the float parade, the festival will also hold the search for the “Festival King and Queen” and “Binibining Dasmariñas”.
“For our street parade, we are setting a record this year, where 43 groups have confirmed their participation — the highest so far in terms of number of participating groups,” Alano said, noting that the parade will include the floats of eight major establishments in the city, as well as the Dasmariñas City government and Cavite’s provincial government.
Meanwhile, 43 couples will vie for the Festival King and Queen title, while 18 lovely ladies will contend for the Binibining Dasmariñas crown.
Whoever wins the title “will not only be the city’s official bet for national pageants but will receive a full college scholarship for any course and in any school here in the Philippines,” Alano said.
The annual festival, which coincides with the city’s founding anniversary, reflects Dasmariñas City’s transformation from a small village of Imus City into a full-fledged progressive city and Cavite’s “university center.” The city is also one of Cavite’s hubs for various services, trade and industry.
Officials, led by City Mayor Elpidio F. Barzaga Jr. and Cavite 4th District Rep. Jennifer Austria Barzaga, are expected to don their colorful butterfly costumes as they celebrate with city folks, students and multi-sectoral groups during the festival.
Senators Sonny Angara and JV Ejercito, along with Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, have confirmed their attendance to the event.
Prizes at stake ranges from PHP50,000 to PHP100,000 for the float parade; PHP25,000 to PHP75,000 for the street dance competition; and PHP7,000 to PHP20,000 for the winners of the Search for the Festival King and Queen.
Aside from the scholarship, the Binibining Dasmariñas winner will receive an additional cash prize of PHP100,000, while runner-ups will get PHP20,000 to PHP60,000.
“Nobody will actually go home with nothing, as consolation prizes will be given to those who will not win,” Alano said.
Some 17 non-government groups are expected to join the festival “but will not compete” in the street parade.
Assembly places have been set at 10:30 a.m. at Orchard Road for the float parade, and De La Salle University – Dasmariñas for the street dance.
So as not to cause any major traffic congestion, the parade route will traverse the Emilio Aguinaldo highway. Traffic re-routing will be announced soon.
Nov. 26 has been declared a special non-working holiday in the city, according to Proclamation No. 625, signed by Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, by authority of President Rodrigo Duterte, to enable the city folks to join the celebration for the city’s founding anniversary.
