December 8 2015 declared a holiday in Batangas
The province of Batangas in Southern Luzon will be celebrating its 434th foundation anniversary this coming Tuesday, December 8. It is referred to as “Ala Eh! Festival,” which was derived from the common expression attributed to Batangueños wherever they are.
The day has been declared a special non-working holiday through President Benigno Aquino III’s Proclamation 1173, which he signed last December 1. Read the full text of Proclamation 1173 in this link.
According to the provincial government’s website, this year’s celebration has the theme “Daluyan ng kaunlaran, yaman ng batangan.” The week-long festivities began last December 1 and is being hosted by the municipality of Santo Tomas, Batangas under the leadership of Mayor Edna Sanchez.
This year’s activities are the following:
December 1 – Fun run, Eucharistic Celebration; Opening of Trade Fair and Agri Fair; Photo Contest and Exhibit, and Debusyong Batangas; Lantern Parade and Pailaw; Street party and music festival
December 2 – Drum and lyre competition
December 3 – LGU Night
December 4 – TM Astig Bingo
December 5 – Mutya ng Batangas Grand Coronation Night
December 6 – Downhill Competition
December 7 – VSR Grand Finals
December 8 – Eucharistic celebration, festival dance competition, and awarding and closing ceremonies
The Filipino Scribe has previously noted that the Spaniards under the command of generals Martin de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo first reached Batangas in 1570. According to one account, the colonizers crossed the coast of Batangas on their way to Manila. On their journey, they discovered a Malay settlement at the mouth of Pansipit River.
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