The Zamboanga Hermosa Festival will conclude its series of socio-cultural activities with three culminating activities one day before the Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar.

The Zamboanga Hermosa Streetdance Competition, Fiesta Main Program, and the Parade of Lights will all take center stage today, October 10, as the final salvo of the two-week celebration of the 2019 Hermosa Festival.

Chairman and General Manager of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Rolando L. Macasaet will be the keynote speaker of this year’s Hermosa Festival Main Program which is scheduled immediately after the Streetdance Competition at the Grandstand.

The Zamboanga Hermosa Streetdance Competition will kick off the day’s celebrations, starting at 8 AM from the City Hall grounds to the Grandstand. A total of 15 entries will be participating in this year’s competition, with 3 entries for the elementary Hermosa-based category, 3 for high school Hermosa-based category, 3 for open Hermosa-based category, and 6 for the regional open category.

Meanwhile, the Parade of Lights float competition will take to the streets in the evening. Colorfully lit floats depicting known icons and sights of Zamboanga City will start flowing down the streets of Normal Road, San Jose to City Hall starting at 6 PM.

Huge crowds are expected to gather today for the observance of the three Festival events with Mayor Beng Climaco earlier declaring suspension of classes and work at the local government unit to allow residents to participate in the Hermosa Festival revelry.

The official feast day of the Lady of the Pillar on October 12 is also a declared special non-working holiday by virtue of Republic Act 7350.

As a security precaution, temporary signal shut down will be observed today from 8 AM to 2 PM and from 6 PM to 9 PM. Shutdown will also be observed on October 12, the feast day proper, from 2 PM to 7 PM. Prohibitions on backpacks, bull caps, and hooded jackets are also in effect.

Tomorrow, the official feast day The Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar will observe the following activities at the Fort Pilar: 4 AM Diana/Holy Rosary, 4:30 AM mañanita mass, 6 AM, 8 AM, 10 AM, and 6:40 PM masses, 3 PM grand procession from Cathedral to Shrine, and 5 PM pontifical mass.  (Jasmine Mohammadsali)