Santa Rosa City @ 225 marks ‘Sikhayan Festival’ with vitality, progress

Santa Rosa City @ 225 marks ‘Sikhayan Festival’ with vitality, progress (Photo: Sikhayan Festival/Facebook)

CITY OF SANTA ROSA, Laguna—Laguna’s City of Santa Rosa marked on Wednesday its 225th foundation anniversary with industry, vitality and bounty with the annual “Sikhayan Festival” at the city’s public plaza.

This year’s celebration adopted the theme “Bunga ng Pagsisikhay ng Mamamayan, Pamana sa mga Kabataan!” (the fruit of the industry and hard work of Rosenian constituents is a legacy for Santa Rosa’s youth).

City Mayor Danilo Ramon Fernandez thanked the people of Santa Rosa for their continued diligence and participation that brought the city to its current progressive state.

Speaking in Filipino, Mayor Fernandez said “we owe it to the city constituents here who worked vigorously given their industry and perseverance to achieve the city’s progress.”

During the program, Fernandez also received the framed commemorative stamps for the celebration of Santa Rosa’s founding anniversary from the Philippine Postal Corporation Post Master General and CEO Joel Otarra after the unveiling ceremonies.

The annual festival “Sikhayan” or a contraction of the Filipino term “sikhay” for vigor and vitality and “kabuhayan” for industry and livelihood coincides with the foundation of Santa Rosa as a town in 1792.

Highlighting the celebration was the street dancing competition with “Fantasy World” motif participated in by six private secondary schools which showcased their talents and creativity featuring fairy tale characters and movie themes Peter Pan, Snow White, Tarzan, Lion King, Alice in Wonderland and Frozen.

Colegio De Santa Rosa Laguna bested five other contenders as street dancing Grand Champion) with runners up Queen Anne School -1st; Jesus the Exalted Name – 2nd; Blessed Christian School De Sta. Rosa – 3rd; Laguna Eastern Academy of Santa Rosa -4th; Laguna Northwestern College -5th.

Queen Anne School also bagged the “Best in Costume” award with their street dancing portrayal of “Alice in Wonderland.”

Movie and television celebrities Alden Richards and Dennis Trillo also spiced up the celebration as they graced the presentation of the “Ginoong Santa Rosa 2017” official candidates.

Laguna Vice-Governor Katherine Agapay, Laguna 1st District Representative Arlene B. Arcillas, Provincial Board Member JM Carait and Laguna Tourism, Culture, and Arts and Trade Office (LTCATO) Head Rosauro Sta. Maria graced the event.

City Vice-Mayor Arnold Arcillas and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod were in full force together with city department heads, guest officials from national government offices.

City residents lined the streets for the parade with city official and employees’ contingents, barangay officials and representatives from the academe, business sector, and various non-government and civic organizations.