CDC gears for ‘Grand Clark Fest’

CLARK FREEPORT – The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) is gearing for the upcoming “Grand Clark Festival” on Nov. 16-17, 2013 at the CDC Parade Grounds here.

CDC President Arthur P. Tugade said aside from the Freeport’s reputation as a business and economic haven, the two-day affair also aims to promote Clark as a destination for family-oriented events.

To guarantee the success of the Grand Clark Festival, Tugade said the CDC has partnered with other Clark stakeholders like the Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA), Greater Clark Visitors Bureau (GCVB), Philippine Air Force (PAF), and locators like Global Gateways and Logistics Center (GGLC), Nayong Pilipino, and El Kabayo.

CDC Tourism and Promotions Office (TPO) Manager Noemi Garcia said the first day of the festival would be highlighted by sky diving and marching band exhibitions courtesy of the PAF and cultural dances and other presentations from Nayong Pilipino. “All these would be held at the stage area located along the parade grounds,” she said.

There would also be majorette and marching bands competition, cooking demo, Korean orchestra, musicale from St. Paul American School, native dances and jungle survival exhibitions from Paradise Ranch, cowgirl contest, and live band performances, Garcia added.

Also on the first day, El Kabayo and the CDC would be hosting the 2013 Horse Festival Exhibitions at the parade ground area near the Clark Museum. Soccer exhibition games and AME Football would be organized by CILA.

The first day would be culminated by a fireworks display at 10 p.m. at the stage area.

Garcia also said the second day of the festival would kick-off with a fun bike ride to be followed by the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the stage area.

Other events at the stage area for the entire day would consist of Palarong Pilipino, animal show by Zoocobia, dog show, battle of the bands, Frisbee competition, second installment of the 2013 Horse Festival Exhibitions, rugby, and fireworks display.

Other simultaneous activities, Garcia said, are the (from Nov. 15-17) North Philippines Travel Expo at the SM City Clark, (from Nov. 16-17) Clark Speedway Motorcycle and Vintage Car Grand Prix, Export Overruns sale, organic market, food and non-food bazaar, “Great Clark Sale” – 50% off on selected duty-free products, hotel accommodations, restaurants, resorts, shops and theme parks, dinosaur land exhibition, static display at the PAF, and golf tournaments at the Mimosa Golf and Country Club and F Korea CC.

All system go for 2013 Singkaban Fiesta

CITY OF MALOLOS-   Continuing the tradition of showcasing the best of the arts and culture of Bulacan, Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado will lead the opening ceremony of the Singkaban Fiesta 2013 on September 9, at 7:00 a.m in front of the Provincial Capitol building in this city.

The governor said that theme of this year’s festival, “Makulay na Sining at Kalinangan: Bulacan, Ipagmalaki at Ikarangal,” urges Bulakenyos to be proud on the flamboyant cultural and artistic heritage of Bulacan.

“Bulacan is known as the cradle of heroes, filling a number of pages in the country’s history. Until the modern times, our province is continuously trudging the path toward a remarkable success not only in economic development but also in the promotion of arts and culture. We are inviting everyone to witness and join us in a weeklong celebration that includes cultural presentations, arts exhibits and other fun activities that you will surely enjoy,” said Alvarado. 

He said that the celebration will begin with a thanksgiving mass that will be attended by more than 3,000 Bulakenyos and will be followed by the “Parada ng Karosa at Kasaysayan,” a parade of floats which will feature achievements of Bulacan in 2012 such as in sports, beauty pageants, arts and governance. This will be participated by local government units and other private partner agencies.

He added that they will also open different exhibits and trade fairs that are conveniently located within the capitol compound. Among them are the Bulakenyo Trade Fair which is a display of Bulacan products like sweets and delicacies, gifts, toys, clothes, bags and fashion accessories; Manlilikhang Bulakenyo which features Bulakenyo inventors and demonstration of their inventions; Dakilang Bulakenyo and Lakan Sining Exhibit which will recount the life and contributions of Mariano Ponce in commemoration of his 150th birth anniversary and an exhibition of Bulakenyo visual artists; and Sining sa Hardin which will show performances of Bulakenyo artists and the Hiyas ng Bulacan Brass Band.

They will also re-launch the Bulacan Pasalubong Center and Bulacan Packaging Service and Toll Packing Center to draw the attention of the public on the services they offer.

Thousands of participants also await the Bulacan Food Festival Exposition (BUFFEX) that will call together the sectors involved in food production in Bulacan, its partners and down-stream industries. The activity also includes selling, food sampling, on-the-spot cooking demo, “Chefs on Parade” and other competitions.

Tourism students from selected universities and colleges will also serve as tour guide of elementary and high school students from different schools in the province in the “24K Lakbay Aral” as they visit the capitol, museum, and mini-forest making them aware of the exceptional features of the province.

“We are proud of our cultural inheritance that reflects who we are as Bulakenyos… our talents, artistry and uniqueness. So we are inviting you to come, experience only the best, experience Bulacan, experience Singkaban,” the governor said.