Dapitan City makes another history!

THE SHRINE CITY OF THE PHILIPPINES (December 28, 2006) - To reiterate and relive the martyrdom of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, our national hero and patriot, the city government of Dapitan in cooperation with Jose Rizal Memorial State College System and the National Historical Institute launched last Thursday the opening of the 1st Handuraw Festival, commemorating Rizal's 110th Death Anniversary.

The three-day festival (Dec. 28-30, 2006) reeled-off by an opening parade spearheaded by Drum and Lyre Corps of participating schools from the Division of Dapitan City, namely: Ilaya National High School, Sulangon NHS, Dapitan City NHS, Dakak NHS, Rizal Memorial Institute, Lawaan Elementary School, Dapitan City Experimental ES, Taguilon ES and Dapitan City Central ES.

Afterwards, the launching program proceeded at the Shrine City Kiosk whom Vice Mayor Patri Bajamunde-Chan rendered her welcome remarks, which was cored on the overview of Handuraw Festival. "’Handuraw’ is a Cebuano term for flashback. This festival is a flashback of how Rizal came and lived with the Dapitanons influencing their way of life in four years of exile in Dapitan. Rizal was not exiled in Dapitan by accident but by destiny," Vice Mayor Chan stressed.

Subsequently, Dr. Eva Moncada, Executive Director of Heritage Dapitan presented the guests - Mayor Dominador G. Jalosjos Jr., Vice Mayor Chan and Dr. Edgar S. Balbuena - to unveil Dr. Jose P. Rizal's portrait and was followed by the message of Mayor Jalosjos, the Executive Chairman of Handuraw Festival '06.

Dr. Balbuena, President of Jose Rizal Memorial State College System and the Chairman of Handuraw Festival delivered his closing remarks.

The said festival will be highlighted by a number of activities and competitions such as painting contest, Rizal look-alike contest, search for Mutya sa Handuraw '06, opening exhibit on the friendship of Rizal and Ferdinand Blumentritt, wreath-laying ceremonies, initiation of new members of the Knights of Rizal, fluvial and float parade, street dancing, film showing of Rizal sa Dapitan story and others.

His Excellency, Ambassador Jaroslav Ludva, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to the Philippines will join Mayor Jalosjos, Jr., city officials and the community in a wreath-laying during the Rizal Day celebration on December 30 at the Rizal Shrine. Over 110 years, as depicted in history, Rizal died for his beliefs and courage to situate against the time of cruelty and oppression under the repressive Spanish regime.

Mayor Jalosjos Jr. has also invited the famous Octava Chorale Society of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) in Iligan City to render a concert at the Dapitan City Cultural and Sports Center on December. 30. 2006.