PORAC, Pampanga—The 10th Binulu Festival is one of the highlights of the monthlong celebration for the 421st founding anniversary of this town.
Binulu Festival is an annual municipal-wide event which aims to showcase the unique local tradition of cooking food using Bulu (bamboo tube).
The Aytas, who reside in five Porac barangays, mastered the cooking of rice and other food with the use of the variety of bulu.
“It’s a young festival, but it already attracts lots of attention. It’s a meaningful festival because it promotes the creativity and good working attitude of our people,” said Councilor Mark Valencia, chairman of the committee on tourism.
The Binulu Festival was first organized in 2005 with then Porac Parish Priest Fr. Elmer Simbulan, as part of the annual fiesta celebration in honor of the town’s patron saint.
The event was initially conceptualized with the help of Fr. Resty Lumanlan, Prudencio Garcia, Tess David and Adrian Garcia.
The festival and other activities also focus on honoring the town’s patron saint, Catherine of Alexandria, locally called “Apung Tali.”
Mayor Carling de la Cruz and Vice Mayor Dexter David praised students and Aytas who performed during the festival on November 16.
“Not just I but many, including town officials, noticed the passion and dedication of the students and Aytas when they joined and performed at the street dance and showdown,” said de la Cruz in the dialect. “These people always inspire us to do our best as public officials.”
High-school students from seven schools and students of the Don Honorio Ventura Technical State University (DHVTSU) extension school joined the festival witnessed by thousands. The Aytas also performed and were in three groups.
De la Cruz, David and then Second District Board Member Fritzie David-Dizon pushed for the establishment of the DHVTSU-Porac to allow more poor, but deserving students get college education beginning 2012.
“We in the Team CD, led by Mayor Carling, are working together to uplift the general welfare of people, especially the poor ones. We always prioritized education for all,” David said. Other members of the Team CD are Councilors Mark Anthony Valencia, Maynard Lapid, Ronie Mercado and Rudy Enriquez.
David said the mayor had decided to extend the celebration of the Porac Day to give all sectors of the society, including farmers, workers and senior citizens, “their own grand time.”
The Miss Porac coronation night and four-by-four off-road championship were held on November 21.
Image credits: Ric Gonzales