Category: Week 07

This article was written by Geráld Diola, Alexander Delizo, and Kyle Saldonido.

The streets were filled with students wearing ethnic clothing, civic groups promoting spine health, and organizations advocating polio vaccination. They were among the 13,000 people who flocked to the streets for the Bañamos Festival 2019 Civic Parade held last Tuesday, September 17.

The Civic Parade is one of the activities of the 18th Bañamos Festival, with the theme “Tagumpay ng Bayan ay Matatamasa ng Mamamayang Nagkakaisa”. The said festival celebrates the 404th foundation anniversary of the Los Baños municipality.

“Ganito po talaga kami karami every year,” Member of the organizing committee Jammil Avellano said in an interview. “Sa order po ng participants, mauuna ‘yung mga government officials, followed by the sponsors, then our departments, schools, and various civic groups in Los Baños.”

For most people, the Civic Parade is a part of local tradition. For others, it’s about visibility.

According to Avellano, since government officials spend much time inside their offices, putting them at the front of the parade would give them more recognition. On the other hand, civic groups, local businesses, and established corporations would advertise their products and advocacies.

Meanwhile, Colegio de Los Baños (CDLB) Principal Ricardo L. Patalen hopes to instill this parade philosophy in his students. “CDLB supports the Bañamos Festival, and it’s our commitment to participate every year,” he shared. “First of all, we show the people of Los Baños how we walk, and it’s also an advertisement for our school.”

“We asked them to wear ethnic clothes which they used as costumes for their Dance Festival in school last week,” Patalen added. “We also required them to join the parade, but it is not compulsory. It’s in the syntax. It’s their option to join. We want them to experience this, but again, it’s not compulsory.”

Meanwhile, a trailblazer of the Civic Parade, the Autism Society Philippines – Laguna Chapter advocates their cause through the yearly march. “Gusto naming ipaalam sa mga tao na may mga serbisyong available for them and nandito kami to help,” organization representative Mrs. Marivic Ramos said.

According to her, they use such occasions as avenues to forward their cause: letting people know that there is help for those with autism.

Not everyone attended the parade for the same purpose. Some claimed that they did not know why they were there, and that they joined because many people were parading.

A total of 112 groups participated in the Civic Parade. Included in the list of participating groups were LGBT Los Baños, Samahan ng mga Magkakambing sa Los Baños, Ahon sa Hirap Microfinance Inc., Solo Parent Federation of Los Baños, and many more. Also joining the parade were corporations such as Jollibee, KFC, and Banco de Oro (BDO).

Jonathan Natividad at the HimigSikan event

As the 18^th Banamos Festival comes to a start, we were able to interview Jonathan Natividad, the tourism officer-in-charge and coordinator of the Bailamos event, and ask him some questions regarding the management and development of the festival itself.

Ano yung mga responsibilidad na nakasalalay sa inyo?

As a tourism officer in charge, tourism talaga yung may hawak sa monetary evaluation and correction, kasi hindi porket kami yung sa tourism kami yung lahat humahawak. Kada event meron kaming committee chairman. For example, sa Mr. and Ms. Los Banos. Ang in charge sa kaniya is si Ms. Karen Lagat-Mercado na head ng Gender and Development office, and then, sa Balye sa Kalye, ang in charge naman siya kay Family department kay Maam Twilya.  Kada event may mga corresponding na chairman, pero sinusupervise parin namin sila. Pero me particularly, although in charge ako sa lahat, sa Bailamos ako talaga yung pinili ni mayor kasi it’s a dance contest. So hindi lang buong effort ng Tourism office, effort ng buong munisipyo talaga ng dangal Los Banos. Siyempre, headed by our honorable mayor Caesar P. Perez.

Ano yung mga problemang inyong hinaharap?

This year, kung ano yung mga nangyari nung past years ay mangyayari ulit ngayon, pero we will make sure naman na may bago. For example, yung mga singing contests namin ,yung mga dance contests namin, hindi lang siya yung basta competition. Parang, icinoconnect parin ito sa thema namin sa founding anniversary namin na  ‘Tagumpay ng Bayan ay Matatamasa ng Mamamayang Nagkakaisa’. So yung unity dapat nandun. And then, in connection with that, yung mga singers namin they will have this big production number. Na parang aside from their place during the competition itself meron silang parang performance na sama sama sila lahat. So maipapakita nila na although they’re magkakalaban nandun sila sa isang layunin na magbigay ligaya at maishowcase kung ano yung meron ang mga talento dito sa bayan ng Los Banos.

This year, meron kaming search for Palengke Queen, at Toda Queen. Gusto kasi ng Mayor na hindi lang concentrated yung Banamos festival sa mga estudyante, dun sa mga dalag at binata. Gusto niya lahat ng residente ng bayan ng Los Banos ay makaparticipate. So, yung Palengke Queen is yung mga tindera sa palengke natin, particularly sa Poblacion saka dito sa Batong Malake public market, ayun kasi yung dalawang, pangunahing palengke dito sa bayan ng Los Banos. Yung mga tinderang babae dun, sila yung magpaparticipate sa search for Palengke Queen. At sa Toda King naman, is mga tricycle divers.

Ano-ano yung mga inaasahang maganap dahil sa mga bagong aktibidades na inyong sinama sa Banamos 2019?

Masmalaki yung market ngayon talaga na inaano ng Banamos, na before nasanay lang sila sa mga singing contests, dance contests, yung pageant ng most awaited na Mr. and Ms. LB. Ayun yung dinagdag natin, ‘Search for the Palengke Queen and Toda King’. At syempre, layunin talaga nito is yung mga activites na makiapagbigay kaligayahan, tas yung mga experience baga, maipakita talaga natin ng mga mamayanan ng Los Banos na may talento silang tinatago, na matatalino sila, ganun.

Meron din kami kaieskwela. Parang, kanta, awit, sayaw na papasigla sa mga eskwela. Ang magpaparticipate naman dun is yung mga estudyante. Mga estudyante dito sa bayan ng Poblacion elementary, highschool, ganun. Pati mga teachers nila mag peperform. So, ang Banamos festival ay para sa lahat.

by Gabriel Dolot, Geraldine Brotonel, Jonn Marwin Bayaborda

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xwc9OZ-7xpYKtDeeoX2SetDkZIADLdgI?usp=sharing

The day dawned gloomy in Los Baños, Laguna as festivities for the Bañamos Parade continue. The Civic Parade along Brgy. Anos, infamous for traffic, is filled with people carrying banners and balloons as they march to the beat of the marching band.

From the Makiling Subdivision, the parade trailed up to the New Multipurpose Hall in Brgy. Baybayin where delegates and spectators were greeted by the Rio Brothers Band who immediately captured the hearts of the senior citizens with their rendition of famous 70’s and 80’s hits keeping the ambiance fun and lively.

Bañamos, one of the biggest festivals here in Laguna not only has become a gathering of residents but also of local & foreign tourists. Ms. Naomi, a British citizen who works at IRRI said, “It’s amazing. Everyone is so friendly and getting together. It’s really nice that people want to celebrate.This is much more impressive than what we do to celebrate.”

Over the years, it seems like the Bañamos Festival has only gotten bigger and better from the large turnout of people and the venue itself. Hon. Josephine “Baby” Sumangil-Evangelista said in a short interview, “Nakita namin na mas madaming taong kasali ngayon. Tapos kung makikita niyo, contained na tayo dito because of this multipurpose hall, Talagang this was… hindi naman rushed, inayos talaga ‘to in time for the Bañamos Festival so every office is here right now celebrating our 404th foundation anniversary.”

The Civic Parade is only one of the most awaited activities of the Bañamos festival and it’s guaranteed that the rest won’t disappoint either.

Sinaulat nila: Stephen Buenaventura (UV-2L), Hendrix Dulay (UV-2L), at Alexil Fajardo (UV-5L)

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Ang mga residente ay hindi nagpatinag sa maulan na panahon at tumuloy pa rin upang makanood ng bailamos dance competition na isa sa mga programa ng ikalabingwalong bañamos festival ng Los Banos. 

Sa kabila ng maulan na panahon, ang mga residente ng bayan ng Los Banos ay hindi nagpatinag upang masaksihan ang isa sa programa ng Banamos festival, ang Bailamos dance competetion.

Ang Multipurpose/Evacuation Center sa bario ng Baybayin ay dinagsa ng madaming tao upang mapanood ang nasabing kompetisyon na binubuo ng sampung grupo mula sa iba’t-ibang parte ng Laguna.  

Ang mga kalahok ay ang mga sumusunod:

1. King of buck
2. South style flava
3. Hybrid buck
4. Next attraction
5. Squammies
6. Street kings
7. NDGC vengeance
8. Nazty boys
9. G7
10. Scammaz

Nakabibinging mga tili at sigawan ang nangibabaw sa buong lugar.  Bunga ito ng pagkamalas ng mga kasaling kalahok ng kani-kanilang sariling estilo at kahusayan sa pagsasayaw na talaga namang ikinatuwa ng maraming manonood. 

Pagkatapos ng lahat ng pagtatanghal, nagbigay naman ng isang especial na pagtanghal o intermission, ang isang grupong kasama si konsehal Dex Concio, at isang united dance, na pinangunahan ng mga kalahok para sa isang huling pagsasayaw, bilang isang sibil na kompetisyon.

Ang mga mananalong grupo sa kompetisyon ay makakatanggap ng 10,000 pesos at sertipiko para sa ikalawang pwesto, 15,000 pesos at sertipiko naman para sa unang pwesto at 20,000 pesos at sertipiko sa kampeon.  Binigyan din ng isang espesyal na parangal ang pinakanatatanging grupo sa lahat na pinagbasehan mula sa pagtanghal ng united dance.

Bago parangalan ang mga kalahok, ang mga hurado ay binigyan muna ng sertipiko ng pagkalugod o certificate of appreciation bilang pagtanggap nila sa imbitasyon ng pagiging hurado ng kompetisyon.

Sa huli, binigay na ang resulta at pinarangalan na ang mga kalahok.  Ang mga nanalo ay ang mga sumusunod na grupo:  Nazty boys sa ikalawang pwesto, Scammaz sa unang pwesto na napanalunan din ang special award na “Dance Group of the Year” at ang kampeon ng kompetisyon, ang grupo ng G7. 

Ayon sa isang miyembro ng grupo, ang kanilang pagkapanalo ay espesyal at natatangi sa kadahilanang ito ang kanilang pinakaunang kompetisyon na na napanalunan bilang isang bagong grupo.  Sila ay nagpapasalamat din sa kanilang mga magulang na nagbigay sa kanila ng suporta at lakas at sinabing ibibigay nila ang kalahati ng kanilang premyo sa mga ito.

Interviewer: Ano pong nararamdaman niyo nung nanalo po kayo?

Interviewee: Sobrang saya po namin kasi first time po kaming nanalo at first time din pong nagawa yung grupo namin. 

Interviewer: Ano pong gagawin niyo sa premyong napanalunan niyo?

Interviewee: Paghahatian po namin at ibibigay po yung kalahati sa parents po namin kasi sila po yung number one na supportive po samin.

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The Bañamos Civic Parade: A march for visibility

Streets filled with students wearing ethnic clothing, civic groups promoting spine health, and organizations advocating polio vaccination – these can be found among the 13,000 people who flocked to the streets for the Bañamos Festival 2019 Civic Parade held last Tuesday, September 17.

“Ganito po talaga kami karami every year,” Member of the organizing committee Jammil Avellano said in an interview. “Sa order po ng participants, mauuna ‘yung mga government officials, followed by the sponsors, then our departments, schools, and various civic groups in Los Baños.”

Avellano mentioned that since government officials spend much time inside their offices, putting them at the front of the parade would give them more recognition. Meanwhile, civic groups, local businesses, and established corporations would advertise their products and advocacies.

For most people, the Civic Parade is a part of local tradition. For others, it’s about visibility.

• 

Colegio de Los Baños (CDLB) Principal Ricardo L. Patalen hopes to instill this parade philosophy in his students. “CDLB supports the Bañamos Festival, and it’s our commitment to participate every year,” he shares. “First of all, we show the people of Los Baños how we walk, and it’s also an advertisement for our school.”

“We asked them to wear ethnic clothes which they used as costumes for their Dance Festival in school last week,” Patalen adds. “We also required them to join the parade, but it is not compulsory. It’s in the syntax. It’s their option to join. We want them to experience this, but again, it’s not compulsory.”

Meanwhile, a trailblazer of the Civic Parade, the Autism Society Philippines – Laguna Chapter advocates their cause through the yearly march. “Gusto naming ipaalam sa mga tao na may mga serbisyong available for them and nandito kami to help,” organization representative Mrs. Marivic Ramos said.

According to her, they use such occasions as avenues to forward their cause: letting people know that there is help for those with autism.

Not everyone attended the parade for the same purpose. Some claimed that they did not know why they were there, and that they joined because many people were parading.

A total of 112 groups participated in the Civic Parade. Included in the list of participating groups were LGBT Los Baños, Samahan ng mga Magkakambing sa Los Baños, Ahon sa Hirap Microfinance Inc., Solo Parent Federation of Los Baños, and many more. Also joining the parade were corporations such as Jollibee, KFC, and Banco de Oro (BDO).

The Civic Parade is one of the activities of the 18th Bañamos Festival, with the theme “Tagumpay ng Bayan ay Matatamasa ng Mamamayang Nagkakaisa”. The said festival celebrates the 404th foundation anniversary of the Los Baños municipality

Ulat nina Ma. Rose Fritchelle Custodia, Aubrey Rose Semaning, at Reinier Gaspar

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Tinanghal ang Maria Band bilang kampeon sa Himigsikan: Battle of the Bands 2019 na ginanap sa General Paciano Rizal Park noong ika-20 ng Setyembre. 

Nagpakitang gilas ang nasabing banda gamit ang mga kantang: Probinsyana ni Bamboo para sa kategoryang Pop; The Way You Make Me Feel ni Michael Jackson para sa kategoryang Rhythm and Blues (RnB); at Byahe, isang orihinal na komposisyon, para sa kategoryang Reggae.

Binubuo ng anim na miyembro ang Maria Band na nagmula sa bayan ng San Pablo. Sila ay nag-uwi ng P25 000 at tropeyo bilang gantimpala. Inuwi rin ng nasabing grupo ang Best in Original Compostion.

Sinundan ito ng Musika Rizal sa ikalawang pwesto; FTMT Band sa ikatlong pwesto na kapwa nag-uwi ng salapi at tropeyo. 

Ayon kay Cheryll T. Laviña- Gonzales, punong-abala sa Himigsikan, layunin ng nasabing patimpalak na maipakita ang kakayahan ng mga mamayan, lalo’t higit ng mga kabataan sa larangan ng musika.

Ani Gonzales na isa rin sa mga pioneer ng nasabing patimpalak, isa sa mga layon nila ay gawing instrumento ang HimigSikan upang himukin hindi lamang ang mga manlalahok mula sa rehiyon kundi pati na rin sa buong bansa. 

Nagsimula ang programa sa ganap na ika-pito ng gabi at tumagal hanggang ika-labindalwa ng hatinggabi. Binigyan ng 20 minuto upang tumugtog ng tig-iisang piyesa ng RnB, Pop at Reggae ang mga kalahok. Limang porsyento ng kabuuang puntos ang maaaring mabawas kung hindi makasunod ang mga ito sa mga nasabing palatuntunin. 

Nagsilibing hurado sina Andrei Panalgan, Rene Boncocan at Marlon Nabia na mga kompositor at eksperto sa musika.

Inilunsad ang HimigSikan kasabay ng unang pagdiriwang ng Bañamos Festival taong 2001, na bukas sa mga banda na may mga miyembrong edad 16 pataas mula sa iba’t-ibang lalawigan ng Rehiyon IV-A CALABARZON.

Ulat nina Ma. Rose Fritchelle Custodia, Aubrey Rose Semaning, at Reinier Gaspar UV-5L

Tinanghal ang Maria Band bilang kampeon sa Himigsikan: Battle of the Bands 2019 na ginanap sa General Paciano Rizal Park noong ika-20 ng Setyembre. 

Nagpakitang gilas ang nasabing banda gamit ang mga kantang: Probinsyana ni Bamboo para sa kategoryang Pop; The Way You Make Me Feel ni Michael Jackson para sa kategoryang Rhythm and Blues (RnB); at Byahe, isang orihinal na komposisyon, para sa kategoryang Reggae.

Binubuo ng anim na miyembro ang Maria Band na nagmula sa bayan ng San Pablo. Sila ay nag-uwi ng P25 000 at tropeyo bilang gantimpala. Inuwi rin ng nasabing grupo ang Best in Original Compostion.

Sinundan ito ng Musika Rizal sa ikalawang pwesto; FTMT Band sa ikatlong pwesto na kapwa nag-uwi ng salapi at tropeyo. 

Ayon kay Cheryll T. Laviña- Gonzales, punong-abala sa Himigsikan, layunin ng nasabing patimpalak na maipakita ang kakayahan ng mga mamayan, lalo’t higit ng mga kabataan sa larangan ng musika.

Ani Gonzales na isa rin sa mga pioneer ng nasabing patimpalak, isa sa mga layon nila ay gawing instrumento ang HimigSikan upang himukin hindi lamang ang mga manlalahok mula sa rehiyon kundi pati na rin sa buong bansa. 

Nagsimula ang programa sa ganap na ika-pito ng gabi at tumagal hanggang ika-labindalawa ng hatinggabi. Binigyan ng 20 minuto upang tumugtog ng tig-iisang piyesa ng RnB, Pop at Reggae ang mga kalahok. Limang porsyento ng kabuuang puntos ang maaaring mabawas kung hindi makasunod ang mga ito sa mga nasabing palatuntunin. 

Nagsilibing hurado sina Andrei Panalgan, Rene Boncocan at Marlon Nabia na mga kapwa kompositor at eksperto sa musika.

Inilunsad ang HimigSikan kasabay ng unang pagdiriwang ng Bañamos Festival taong 2001, na bukas sa mga banda na may mga miyembrong edad 16 pataas mula sa iba’t-ibang lalawigan ng Rehiyon IV-A CALABARZON.

By Kristine Maeko Cueto, Leila Katherine Mapa, Reulene Jezreel Matalog

Continuing the festivities of the Bañamos festival from September 16  to September 23, 2019, over 268 people registered for the yearly Zumba-ños, a Zumba activity organized and headed by Los Baños Vice Mayor Antonio Kalaw on September 19, 2019, 4 PM at the Multipurpose Hall in the municipality of Los Baños, Laguna.

Vice Mayor Antonio Kalaw shared that the event was organized yearly to unify all 14 Zumba groups who conduct their weekly Zumba sessions in their respective barangays. “Parang general assembly ito ng mga barangay.” he said. In his opening remarks, he also mentioned the importance of the activity to one’s health. 

The event started with a short prayer followed by a video presentation of the highlights of the previous Zumba-ños. Guest Zumba instructor Wowie De Guzman, actor, and licensed mixxedfit instructor engaged the participants with simple but hip choreographies to the upbeat rhythm. The crowd, all excited to take part regardless of age and gender, was filled with neon colors and bohemian themed outfits. Besides the Zumba dancers from various barangay, employees from different government sectors such as the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection participated in the event. 

Drawing of raffles and awarding of best dressed concluded the two-hour event.  A total of 17 raffles were drawn, 7 winners of P500 worth of cash and 10 winners of P500 worth of gift certificates from sponsors. Noli Baldovino, Rhonila Cachuela, and Carmen Garano bagged the title for best dressed for Zumba-ños 2019.