The 2024 celebration of the Puto Latik Festival saw a bigger, grander and much more inclusive line-up of events designed to entice everyone not only to watch but also participate in this round of showcasing Biñanense culture at its finest.
A cultural rebirth.
That was the ideal description of this year’s celebration of the Puto Latik Festival in Biñan City, Laguna, the second full-force celebration of the city’s cultural and culinary heritage since Covid-19 pandemic restrictions were finally lifted in 2023.
"We will be showcasing the best of Biñan and the best in Biñan – yung iba't ibang talento ng mga kababayan natin, lalo na yung mga kabataan – at ipapakita natin kung papaano na-transform ang City of Biñan," was Mayor Walfredo "Arman" Dimaguila, Jr.'s pledge during the official launch of the nine-day festivities last May 15.
And true to that promise, the 2024 celebration of the Puto Latik Festival saw a bigger, grander and much more inclusive line-up of events designed to entice everyone not only to watch but also participate in this round of showcasing Biñanense culture at its finest.
Barangays’ participation
The first day of the Puto Latik Festival last May 15 proved to be a “sneak peek” of what visitors and locals could expect during the course of the nine-day fiesta.
All of Biñan City’s 24 barangays were able to show off their talents at the Puto Latik Costume Parade and Competition, Drum Beating Exhibition, and Street Dance Parade and Competition during that day.
These barangays also found other outlets to express their own local culture during the Land Float Competition held on the evening of May 21, during which Barangay Tubigan emerged as the overall champion.
Barangay San Antonio was hailed as the 1st runner-up at the land float competition, followed by Barangay Timbao.
Of course, of special mention is the much-anticipated Puto Biñan 2.0: The Biñan Cook-Off Challenge on May 20, in which 23 barangays took to the challenge of putting a new twist (and topping) to the city's most favorite "merienda."
The team from the small barangay of Bungahan ultimately bagged first prize with their Caramelized Puto Macapuno, while the Barangay San Jose team became the 1st runner-up with their Puto Banaffee and Barangay San Francisco won 2nd runner-up for their Peach Puto Biñan.
Honored
Meanwhile, barangays who actively contributed to the city’s continued socio-economic progress were also feted at the City of Life Awards last May 17, during which the city’s top businesses and entrepreneurs were honored by the city government.
These include Barangays Langkiwa, Santo Nino, Canlalay, San Vicente, Dela Paz, Poblacion, San Francisco, and Santo Tomas, which were hailed as "most outstanding barangays for tourism development and promotion"; and Barangay Mamplasan, which earned the title of being the "most business-friendly" barangay."
Also honored during the City of Life Awards were Isuzu Philippines Corporation (Top 1 Outstanding Taxpayer Award); Fujitsu Die-tech Corporation of the Philippines (Employer of the Year); Viy Cortez of Viyline Cosmetics (Entrepreneur of the Year); Wilhelmina Garcia of Junk Not Eco-Creatives (Green Business Award); Barbierro Barbershop (Gender-Responsive Business Award); and Southwoods Mall (Child-Friendly Business Award)
That almost all of the city’s barangays were able to participate in this year’s Puto Latik Festival is a symbol of the “true unity” that the city’s leaders had strived to impart not only in its leaders but in every Biñanense.
"Lahat po ay welcome dito sa Puto Latik Festival - kahit anumang kulay, kahit kalaban [sa pulitika], wala po kaming pinipili, lahat ay inaanyayahang makiisa at makisaya sa ating lungsod,” was how Vice Mayor Gel Alonte had put it in an interview with OpinYon Laguna.
Culture, public service prominent
As promised by the Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office (BCHATO), most of the activities in this year’s Puto Latik Festival aimed to display the full talent of the Biñanense people.
Such activities as the Biñan Modern Dance Showdown, the Biñan Flair Challenge (during which local baristas showed off their bartending skills); and the Biñan Singing Idol provided Biñanenses an ideal outlet to show off their talents and skills.
Meanwhile, the "Usapang Kultura: the 8th Biñan Cultural Summit" on May 21 and the "Isang Pasasalamat Concert" of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra on May 23 highlighted the importance of reviving and continuing public interest in the local culture.
And as reported earlier by OpinYon Laguna, public service is also a vital component of this year’s festivities.
These include the inauguration of the Biñan Super Health Center last May 18, an event graced by Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, as well as the Alagang Len Caravan of Representative Len Alonte on May 16; the "Dedikasyon at Aksyon Caravan" of Councilor Dada Reyes on May 19; the "Tatak Gel Caravan" of Vice Mayor Gel Alonte on May 21; and the "Serbisyong Arman Caravan" of Mayor Arman Dimaguila on May 22.
Living proof
For Biñan City’s leaders, the success of this year’s Puto Latik Festival is yet another proof that its novel “culture-based development” is paying back its dividends.
“We have to remember that tourism is a by-product of culture. At ang ipinagdiriwang natin sa festivals ay hindi lang yung tangible assets, gaya ng Puto Biñan; pwede siyang kultura, pwede siyang values, whatever it is that you want to instill the people. At hindi mo maise-celebrate ang festival kung hindi mo alam ang kultura,” was how BCHATO head BJ Borja explained to OpinYon Laguna.
The success of the Puto Latik Festival, therefore, must be measured not only in the revenues generated by local businesses from the tourists and locals during the nine-day festival but also in the active participation of each and every Biñanense to the events.
Biñan City Representative Len Alonte couldn’t be more right when she had this to say at the opening of the Puto Latik Festival: “Dalangin ko na itong taon na ito, ang ating paggunita, pagkilala at pagpapasaya ng Puto Latik Festival ay maging successful kasama ang bawat isang Biñanense, at kanilang maramdaman at patuloy na ipakilala sa buong lalawigan ng Laguna ang kultura na ating ipinagmamalaki dito sa City of Life.”
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