Upon instruction of Mayor John Dalipe, the city government is now preparing the calendar of activities and budgetary requirements for this year’s Zamboanga Hermosa Festival “Celebracion de Colores” in October.

This time, however, what used to be a month-long celebration will be limited until October 11 only to give way for the campaign period of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan [BSK] election period.

On behalf of Mayor Dalipe, City Administrator Mario Yanga on Monday, May 29, presided over the initial meeting of the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival Committee to discuss the various activities as proposed by the City Tourism Office headed by Sarita Sebastian.

Also in the meeting were City Accountant Jo Ann Mae Hamili and representatives from the City Budget Office.

For this year’s 11-day festival, the proposed activities are the following: Hermosa Festival Concert [Opening Salvo] on Oct. 1; Regatta on Oct.8; Street Dance Competition Oct. 11; Dance Reception; Vinta Parade; Fiesta Tour and Food Crawl; Familiarization Tour; Parade of Lights Oct. 6; Balikbayan Fiesta; Hermosa Golf Tournament;  Mascota Oct. 7 and Badju Oct.4.

Yanga emphasized that per instruction of Mayor Dalipe no more activities shall be held beyond Oct. 12 to prevent violation of the BSK election period.-[Vic Larato]