The annual Bangkero (boatman) Festival of Pagsanjan, the tourist capital of Laguna kicks off today with the traditional boat race (regatta) as highlight of the five-day celebration.
The much-awaited summer festival provides domestic and foreign tourists a glimpse of the local culture and the locals’ way of life through a variety of activities such as a fluvial and land parade, best river and land float competition, streetdancing, drum & lyre band contest, choral fest, cultural night, trade fairs and a “palarong bangkero” like palo sebo, bunong braso, and agawan ng buko.
This year’s event carries the theme “Mamamayan Makilahok! Bayan Ko, Tutulungan Ko!”
Mayor E.R. Ejercito III said the Bangkero festival is inspired and dedicated to Pagsanjan’s patroness Our Lady of Guadalupe and to the boatmen of the municipality.
“The festival pays tribute to the dexterous and skilled bangkeros of Pagsanjan who expertly paddle and maneuver upstream the bancas, serving as tour guides for tourists headed for the famous Pagsanjan Falls,” he noted.
Other events lined up until March 14, Sunday include a singing and dance contest, on-the-spot painting contest, cookfest featuring barangay delicacies, Search for ‘Lakan at Binibining Pagsanjan’, ‘Ginoong Pagsanjan Bangkero’ and a festival showdown of folk dances. Joining the festival are the Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company, Kids of the Nation and the Camera Club of the Philippines.
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