Sibulan slates activities for June 13 fiesta

By Rachelle M. Nessia

Saturday 2nd of June 2012

DUMAGUETE CITY, June 2 (PIA) -- The municipality of Sibulan, known as a “pilgrim town” in Negros Oriental, will mark its fiesta this year with a series of activities for an almost-month long celebration.

The celebration is highlighted by the Miss Sibulan 2012 Beauty Pageant which kicked off on May 19 with a presentation of the candidates at the Municipal Covered Auditorium Stage.

Eight ladies, each representing barangays in Sibulan, are competing for the Miss Sibulan 2012 title with the winner poised to win a crown and a P5,000 cash prize, said Fiesta Directorate Director Concepcion Rosales.

Vying for the crown are Fionah Dia Sy of Ajong and Maningcao; Rochelle Diputado of Magatas and Tubtubon; Giel Ozoa Estrellado of Cangmating and Balugo; Karyn Jell G. Monencillo of Maslog; Keziah Marie U. Montebon of Bolocboloc and Calabnugan; Marissa Catan of Looc; Jamela Noahn Balimbingan of Agan-an and Tubigon; and Lyle Rose Chua of Enrique Villanueva.

“The pageant is a major attraction during the traditional fiesta celebration apart from the fluvial procession that will be spearheaded by the church on the 12th of June 2012,” said Rosales.

The candidates will appear onstage again on June 11 at 8:00 pm for the talent, pageant, and coronation night.

The fiesta day on June 13 will be marked by an early concelebrated holy mass by the Roman Catholic Church.

Early and subsequent events include: First Ballotting of Little Miss Sibulan on May 25; Minus One Singing Competition, May 30; Ballroom Dancing, May 31; Opening Basketball Invitational Tournament, June 1; 8 Basketball Invitational Tournament, June 2; 3rd Ballotting Little Miss Sibulan 2012, June 7; Frisbee Day and SMB Night, June 9; Frisbee Day 2, Disco, June 10; Parade of the Beauties and Coronation Night Little Miss Sibulan, Disco, June 11; Fluvial Parade & Independence Day, June 12; Fiesta Day, June 13; Globe Welcome Balikbayans and the Community, June 15; and Banca Racing, June 24.

Sibulan Mayor Marcela Bartoces said she expects this year’s fiesta to have the customary liveliness, meaningfulness.

“It will be a time to pay homage to Sr. San Antonio de Padua, the town’s patron saint, and to thank the Lord Almighty for the year-round blissfulness that subsists the town’s atmosphere,” she said.

For this year, the fiesta theme is: “Sibulan Gears Up Towards Sustainable Ecosystem Through Environmental Protection and Preservation”.

The theme is one way of building disaster preparedness and for people to be conscious of their roles to protect and preserve the environment, Rosales said. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)