Tanauan, Leyte (August 16) -- This year's Tanauan PASAKA Festival, which was held on August 14, 2009, was the most significant, grandest and most impressive ever in its history.

No less than arts and culture czarina former Leyte Governor and former Congresswoman, now PAGCOR vice president, Honorable Remedios Loreto Petilla, commented that the first three winners in this year's PASAKA Festival could already qualify, and even encouraged them to participate in the Pintados Kasadyaan Festival next year.

What makes this year's PASAKA Festival more meaningful and spectacular is that at 18, represented by the Tanauan National High School tribe, PASAKA reigns over other festivals in Leyte as it bagged the championship crown in this year's Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals conducted by the province of Leyte in June.

Mayor Roque A. Tiu said that this year's PASAKA Festival was participated in by the best and award-winning festivals in Leyte, the Aliwan Festival and Sinulog Festival Champion which is the acclaimed Buyugan Festival of Abuyog, Leyte; the Karatong Festival which is the 5th placer in the Sinulog and Aliwan Festival and the second runner up in the recent Kasayadyaan Festival; and the Batobalani Festival, the reigning first runner up of the Kasadyaan Festival. The good mayor thanked Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla for making this possible.

Of course, the TNHS PASAKA Festival also performed but no longer as contestant, Mayor Tiu said, who said he is happy that before his term as mayor is ended, the festival which was initiated in 1992 when he first assumed as the chief executive of the municipality, has reached the apex of what every festival is aiming for.

This was only made possible because of the acceptance and support by the academe, the local government officials and the entire citizenry of Tanauan and the whole province.

Mayor Tiu expressed hope that the aim of the PASAKA Festival which is primarily to heighten awareness of the youth and the people on the significance of the Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption, the town's patroness; to pay homage and to give thanks to the Lord Almighty for all His blessings and unceasing care; and to instill in the youth and the people that sense of unity and appreciation for the town's cultural heritage, have all been achieved.

Mayor Tiu was so inspired and satisfied with this year's PASAKA Festival presentation that he doubled, to the merriment of the participants, the championship cash prize both for the PASAKA Festival and PASAKA merry makers categories.
This year's PASAKA Festival championship crown was bagged by the Assumption Academy which incidentally was the first PASAKA Festival champion at the festival's inception in 1992. The exultant Assumption Academy dancers received P50,000. cash prize, the championship trophy and the honor of representing Tanauan in next year's Pintados Kasadyaan. In the merry makers category, the first prize was claimed by the Tanauan Women's Club merry makers, which incidentally was also the champion in 1992.

PASAKA Festival is a socio-cultural presentation depicting a people paying homage to the town's Patronage, Our Lady of Assumption, as she is assumed into Heaven. It is also an act of thanksgiving for the blessings received and a way of welcoming the visitors into the homes of the Tanauananons.

Mayor Roque Tiu said that the PASAKA Festival is more than making the people especially the young children, aware of the culture and history which is uniquely Tanauan, it is also a reflection of the unity and cooperation among the town's people.

It was conceived and initiated in 1992 by Mayor Roque Tiu with Madam Olive Tiu as the Chairperson of the Tanauan Women's PASAKA Foundation. Since then, Madame Olive as she is fondly called by the constituents, chaired the PASAKA during its birthing years and helped mold it into what it is today.

PASAKA prides itself in being one of the Festivals in the Region which has been consistently holding an annual contest since its inception. (PIA 8)