For the city government of San Pedro, Laguna, the sampaguita is not just a symbol of the city’s blooming economy and culture but also a symbol of the forces that unite the city’s residents.
This will be the main focus of the city government as it unveiled the lineup of activities for the upcoming Sampaguita Festival – under this year’s theme, “Sampaguita ang Puso ng Pagkakaisa,” slated from May 1 to 5.
At a press conference held last April 22, City Mayor Art Mercado and City Tourism, Culture and Arts Office (CTCAO) head Jhe-Rico Sam Colina assured members of the media – and San Pedrenses as well – of a bigger, grander and more colorful Sampaguita Festival under Mercado’s watch.
Drawing the knowledge and insights the San Pedro LGU had gained from the previous year’s Sampaguita Festival, the local executive said the five-day celebration of the 2024 Sampaguita Festival aims not only to highlight the sampaguita itself but also the rich culture and heritage of San Pedro.
Among the highlights for this year’s festivities include the San Pedro Weekend Market, Color Fun Run, Street Dancing, Mobile Photography, Sampaguita Product Fair and Exhibit, Barangay Trade, E-Sports Tournament & Cosplay, Cook-Fest, Car Show, Sampaguita Garland Competition & Exhibit, Grand Float Parade, the Ginoo at Binibining San Pedro pageants, and a “bigger” Shark Tank competition featuring products made from the sampaguita flower.
This year’s “Shark Tank” competition will also see bigger prizes for the winners to entice more aspiring entrepreneurs to pitch their sampaguita-based products, Colina explained in response to OpinYon Laguna’s question regarding the event.
“This year, pinalaki po talaga natin yung cash para po yung mga mananalo sa naturang competition ay makapagsimula po talaga ng sarili nilang negosyo based sa naging produkto nila. Malaking bagay po na mabigyan natin sila ng capital, lalo na po’t this year ay may mga kabataan po na nagpahayag ng interes na sumali,” the CTCAO head said.
Other activities include the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, Serge Igonia Sampaguita Tribute Booth Exhibit, Araw ng Mamamayan Serbisyo Fair, Sampaguita Tree Planting Activity, and the Launch and Turnover Ceremony of the Laguna Lakeside Boat Club in Barangay Landayan.
“Gusto naming i-promote yung pagbabalik ng sampaguita, yun ang priority natin. The Sampaguita revival para mabigyan ng livelihood yung ating mga kababayan dito at para mai-promote yung yung local tourism at cultural heritage dito sa lungsod ng San Pedro,” Mercado added.
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