The Sinadya sa Halaran

he Sinadya sa Halaran Festival is the joint festival of the City of Roxas and the Province of Capiz. It is a mixed festival in that it is celebrated for both cultural and religious reasons. It is celebrated every first weekend of December in commemoration of the Feast of the Virgin of the Immaculate Concepcion who also happens to be the patroness of the City of Roxas. Sinadya sa Halaran boasts of colorful activities like the grand parade of festivals, the fluvial parade, the lighted river floaters. There is also the traditional seafood festival and the grand pyrotechnic display.

Sinadya sa Halaran is one of Roxas City’s most important annual events and is fusion of two festivals – “Sinadya” (City) and “Halaran” (Province) which literally means joy in sharing and thanksgiving. It is celebrated on December 4-8 to commemorate the religious activities that embody the true Capiceño spirit. The highlights of the celebration are the Dancing Parade, ”Higantes”, Fluvial Parade, Fireworks display, Mutya sa Halaran beauty pageant, Coronation of the Fiesta Queen, and Agri-Aqua Trade Fair.

ROXAS CITY - Naging makulay ang pagbubukas ng selebrasyon ng Sinadya sa Halaran 2011 Festival sa lalawigan ng Capiz.

Sinimulan ang selebrasyon ng isang thanksgiving mass sa Roxas City Metropolitan Cathedral na dinaluhan ng mga opisyal ng lungsod ng Roxas at probinsya ng Capiz.

Nagbigay din ng kani-kanilang mga mensahe ng pagbati at pag-imbita sina Gov. Victor Tanco Sr. at Roxas City Mayor Alan Celino sa seremonya matapos ang flag raising ceremony na nilahukan ng 16 na bayan ng probinsya.

Pagsapit ng dapit hapon, dinaluhan ng libu-libong mga deboto ang ginanap na tradisyunal na prosisyon sa Panay River o ang fluvial parade ng imahe ni Immaculada Concepcion at ang taonang pyrotechnic display.

Nagbigay kulay rin sa nasabing prosisyon ang sabay-sabay na pagpapailaw ng mga Christmas light sa mga kakahuyan na nakapalibot sa lungsod.

Libu-libo ring mga manonood ang nakisaya sa pagbukas ng seafood festival kung saan ipinakita ang iba't ibang mga seafoods sa Roxas City at Capiz.

Mutya Sang Sinadya sa Halaran 2011 Contestants

ROXAS CITY – Sinadya Sa Halaran

ROXAS CITY – Sinadya Sa Halaran, the premier festival of Capiz and Roxas City, will be celebrated on Dec. 7-11 with a theme “Paghiliusa kag Pagkinasadya Kaupod sang Birhen Santa Maria.”

Roxas City Acting Tourism officer Bryan Mari Argos said this year’s celebration would focus more on the spiritual aspect as a tribute to the Patroness of the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception on her feast day on Dec. 8.

Mayor Angel Alan B. Celino and Gov. Victor Tanco Sr , chairmen of the festival’s steering committee, are inviting people from other provinces to witness the celebration and Capisnon from abroad to go back to their home province and join the festival.

Argos, meanwhile, said that this year’s celebration would be simple but a unique activity has been added to the various array of activities, launching of a regional and national Culinary Seafood Competition.

The budget for this year has decreased by some P1 million, confirmed Argos.

Guests expected to arrive for the occasion are Underecretary Bernadette Puyat of the Department of Agriculture; Director Rolando Cañizal and Warner Andrada, Division Chief of the Product and Research of the Department of Toursim; and showbiz personalities Coco Martin, Giuliano Roxas-Comia and Miss Universe third runner-up Shamcey Supsup.

One of the most-awaited events of this year’s Sinadya sa Halaran is the Search for Mutya sang Sinadya sa Halaran slated on Dec. 8 at the Capiz Gymnasium in Villareal Stadium. Seventeen candidates are vying for the crown. The search is held under the auspices of the Capiz Lions Club headed by its president Patrick Honrado.

Another colorful feature of the festival is the street-dancing with Higantes(giant mascots made of paper mache’) on Dec. 9 . Each higante will represent a particular seafood product or marine creature. The street-dancing will be participated in by 10 clusters.

Also one of the highlights of the festival is the Parade of Festivals on Dec. 10 to be participated in by Roxas City and different towns of Capiz.

This year’s fiesta queen is Jeniffer Asis-Bermejo . She will be escorted by Roxas City Executive Assistant Jericho Angel Alan Celino, also the son of Mayor Angel Alan B. Celino.