by Liza Abubakar-Jocson, Manila Bulletin
ZAMBOANGA CITY – A Parade of Lights kicked off this year’s Hermosa Festival– Zamboanga City’s annual festival honoring its patron saint Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar – on Saturday, Oct. 1.
Twelve floats decorated with sparkling lights sponsored by business establishments, schools, barangays and other private organizations were paraded in Zamboanga streets.
Said floats were also rated by judges for the prizes given by the Zamboanga government.
The floats lighted up Mayor Vitaliano Agan Avenue, Mayor Climaco Avenue, JS Alano and Valderrosa Streets.
The parade culminated at Paseo del Mar where Mayor John Dalipe distributed cash prizes to this year’s winners.
The P200,000 cash prize for this year’s top winner went to the Tau Gamma Phi.
Other winners were the Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School winning P150,000; Kuya’s Lechon P100,000, Brent Hospital P70,000; and College and Barangay Arena Blanco P50,000.
The Zamboanga Hermosa Festival/Fiesta Pilar will culminate on October 12 with a mass, novena and procession in honor of Our Lady of the Pillar, Zamboanga City’s patron saint.
