All roads lead to the Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish in Borongan City in Eastern Samar as it celebrated the Feast of the Nativity, also known as the Blessed Virgin Mary last September 8, 2024.
Borongan City was pulsating during the commemoration of the fiesta in honor of its patron saint, the Lady of Nativity.
As usual, there were a lot of festivities, according to entertainment journalist Art Tapalla who is native of Hilabaan, Dolores, one of the towns of the lone congressional district of Eastern Samar.
"Ang daming mga seremonya. Siyempre, may perya, may mga handa ang mga bahay. May mga palabas. Masaya (There were many celebrations. Of course, there were carnivals, each house had its partake of food. There were shows. It was fun)," informed Art who was monitoring every second of the day.
"There was the 'Tuklas' singing contest. Local show business was once again invited to the event which was initiated by Maria Fe Abunda, the sister of Boy Abunda.
It's an annual competition organized by Congresswoman Abunda.
"Ngayong taong ito, ang mga hurado ay sina Ian Veneracion, Gabbi Garcia and her boyfriend Kahlil Ramos. Kasama rin nila si EJ Falcon. Grabe. Matagal ang selebrasyon (This year, the board if jurors were composed of many stars. It was amazing. The celebration was almost week-long)," informed Art Tapalla who said that it was through the effort of Boy that these movie and television stars were made to appear in the annual event.
Kahlil and Gabbi after frolicking in Taipei in Taiwan went immediately to Borongan City while Ian asked permission from his producers to take a trip to Samar in between his shoots and EJ came all the way from Oriental Mindoro where he holds office as Vice-Governor of the region.
Ian Veneracion, Gabbi Garcia, Khalil Ramos as judges in Tuklas 2024 in Borongan
Ian Veneracion, Gabbi Garcia, Khalil Ramos as judges in Tuklas 2024 in Borongan
"Nagsasaya ang buong bayan. Alam mo ba na kahit mula sa Dolores, nakikipamiyesta pa sa (The town was in celebratory mood. Didn't you know that even residents of Dolores took part in the celebration and went all the way to) Borongan," quipped Art.
Borongan City also observed the Padul-Ong Festival or the occasion when Borongan people traced the origin of how the image of the Most Holy Virgin Mary was brought to the town in the ancient times to become its patroness.
"Ganyan kadeboto ang mga taga-Borongan City. Masyado silang relihiyoso (That's how religiously devoted they are)," described Art.
Two days before the fiesta date itself, Boy held his Facebook Live in his mansion in Borongan, said Tapalla.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews #Tuklas2024 #IanVeneracion #KhalilRamos #GabbiGarcia