THE PRIDE OF ANILAO, ILOILO:
BANAAG FESTIVAL HAILED BY VILLAR

Guest of honor Senate President Manny Villar hailed the pageantry of lights and fire at the Banaag Festival last Nov. 3 at the Anilao Town Plaza in Anilao, Iloilo.

"I commend the daring and brilliant creativity of the Anilaonons displayed in the splendid Banaag Festival which I believe shall soon become one of the country's famous tourist attractions comparable to the Dinagyang, Ati-Atihan and Sinulog," Villar, whose late father hailed from Iloilo, said.

"Through this event, the people of Anilao inspire not only their community members but also our entire people in understanding our history, in deepening our roots as a race, and in attracting tourism in our provinces," the Nacionalista president who emerged as the top choice of his Kasimanwas in the last senatorial elections stressed.

"I am truly honored to have become part of this occasion and to have witnessed such awesome parade of unique Filipino ingenuity and culture," he said.

Banaag is a historical festivity dedicated to the brave men and women of Anilao in their struggle for peace and freedom, highlighted by spectacular open-air exhibition of dances with fire art.

The festival, which began on Nov. 1, is said to be "a celebration of life and spirit through the pathways of movement and music." The fire performances display the grace of dancers spinning torches and hoops of fire and chanting with the beat of the drums and percussion instruments.

The finale of the celebration was a tribe competition held on Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. at the town plaza and attended by the Senate President and the Anilaonons.

A modernized theatrical interpretation of Anilao's history, the cultural presentation revisits the significance of light that once saved their lives as they fought for freedom against the Spanish conquistadores.

In Iloilo, the Senate President also donated boxes of noodles to flash floods victims in Zaraga through Mayor Gregorio Brazas.