This year, the town of Pilar, Bataan began celebrating Kasinagan Festival, the new name with which the annual Fiesta celebration will be called. Kasinagan was coined from the Filipino word “sinag” which means glow or bright light coming from a place or an object. The glowing light from Nuestra Señora Del Pilar’s crown inspired Pilarians to call the festival “Kasinagan”.
Our diligent Mayor Alicia D. Pizarro with the Fiesta Committee composed of Ms. Abegail S. Torrico, Ms. Christine Gale O. Austria, Mr. Hipolito “Amore” Duque, Jr., Mr. Joseph Ralph Dizon, Mr. Leo Espinosa, Mrs. Florentina B. Olivares and Ms. Mary Rose T. Ferrera were the minds behind the victorious activities that can be enjoyed by every Pilarian enthusiastic on how this year’s celebration would be.
A Kasinagan theme song composed by Mr. Leo Espinosa and Mr. Nesty Enriquez and sung by Ms. Nikki Joy Enriquez was created as well as a Kasinagan dance choreographed by Mr. Joseph Ralph Dizon performed during the opening of the Festival, at every activity done during the Fiesta celebration, and at the Festival parade. The theme song and the dance made the celebration even more jovial.
The 9 days celebration run through October 4 to 12. The first exciting activity was the 2nd Padyakan Mayor’s Cup 2015 which started at 5:00Am from the Municipal Hall going to the historic spots of Pilar, Mt. Samat and Dunsulan Falls. This represents the voyage of the Spanish friars who, incidentally, landed at the town of Pilar. The race have 6 categories. The winners were:
Category A – 90 Kilos (Heavy Weight)
1st – Jan Cyrill
2nd – Arnel Gozon
3rd – Hazim Alintano
Category B
1st – Raymond Magpoc
2nd – Reyneil Magpoc
3rd – Russel Tenoño
Category C
1st – Michael Legaspi
2nd – Gerald dela Rosa
3rd – Reniel Delos Santos
Category D
1st – Richard Reyes
2nd – Boy Bulatao
3rd – Jonathan Vanadero
Category E
1st – Daniel Delos Santos
2nd – Jun de Leon
3rd – Dindo Fernando
Category F
1st – Nestor Abitong
2nd – Jun Ochoa
3rd – Emil De Leon
The second day was a representation of the start of the Catholic faith in the town thru the Alfresco Mass celebrated by Fr. Boy. This also signaled the opening of the Agro Fair were the abundant harvest of Pilar farmers and fishermen were exhibited at the Municipal Covered Court from October 5-6. There were contests enjoined by the farmer and fisherman groups as well.
The winner for the Best Costume is Jessie Salazar, followed by Ma. Emelita Gonzala and Jonathan Magnaye respectively. For the Group Singing Contest, 1st prize was bagged by Samahan ng Mangingisda ng Landing (SML) represented by Benjamin Gruela, 2nd prize winner is Rural Improvement Club (RIC) represented by Elizabeth Paguio, and the third prize was won by Nagwaling Diwa Liyang Farmers Association (NAGDILIFA) represented by Angel Marquez.
The following are the other categories:
Best Booth:
1st – Reynaldo Dela Rosa
2nd – Avelina Casabuena – Pilar RIC
3rd – Jonathan Magnaye
Crowned as PinakaPapaya was Anselmo Pedrache and PinakaBanana was Ruth Roque.
Then, a queen for the Festival was crowned on October 7 to represent the beauty of this humble yet very historic town. The crowned Festival Queen was Ms. Princess Jocson from Barangay Panilao.
Her royal court consisted of
1st – Ms. Mary Ann Bautista of Barangay Santa Rosa
2nd – Ms. Jaymalyn Salas of Barangay Alauli
3rd – Ms. Edrose Joy Binluan of Barangay Diwa
After these momentous representations, a festive mood was set at the streets of Pilar thru a vigorous PaSaKalye, a Street Dancing Competition. The street dancers paraded energetically from Barangay Bantan Munti to the Municipal Grounds. Every barangay was represented by a spirited group of street dancers.
The winners for the PaSaKalye were as follows:
Champion – Bgy. Sta. Rosa
1st runner-ip – Balut I and II
2nd runner-up – Bantan Munti and Wakas South
Then, on that same night, our senior citizens, those who still carry in them the beautiful history and culture of our beloved town ramped on the lime lights thru the Ganda ng Lola Ko Pageant. Each barangay was represented by a classic beauty, reminding Pilarians that with age comes the grace of true beauty.
Crowned Ganda ng Lola ko was Lola Irene Lulu of Ala-uli. First runner-up was Lola Ma. Fe Nacario of Sta. Rosa and 2nd runner-up was Lola Cleotilde Mercado of Poblacion. Special awards given were as follows:
Best in Long Gown – Rosalina Alba, Panilao
People’s Choice – Rosalina Alba, Panilao
Best in Popularity – Erlinda Italia, Bagumbayan
Most Photogenic – Irene Lulu, Ala-uli
Miss Congeniality – Carmen Balegadia, Liyang
Best in Talent – Cleotilde Mercado, Poblacion
Best in Recycled Costume – Cleotilde Mercado, Poblacion
The following two nights were display of awesome talents of our educators and church servants. October 9 was the PRNHS and DepEd Night highlighting some of the Philippine icons such as Hagibis, VST & Co., Sampaguita, Eraserheads, Sexbomb, Francis M., among others. The teachers did great justice to the music and talents of these iconic artists. It was a truly musical and humorous night of talented educators wowing the audience.
October 10 was a night of wonderful music performed by the choir groups of our parish. The Gabi ng Parokya was a sweet serenade to our loving Mother Mary, our Nuestra Senora Del Pilar. It was as if you are at a theater entertained by sweet angelic voices telling of the tender love of our Lady. Teatro Romano also performed splendidly that night.
The day before the Fiesta was a merry day of anticipation to the grand Fiesta celebration. The Parada ng Bayan joined in by our dynamic and very graceful Mayor Alicia D. Pizarro, our diligent Vice Mayor Marino Caguimbal, the Sangguniang Bayan members, municipal department heads and employees, Baranggay Captains and Baranggay Kagawads, various organizations such as OFW Family Circle, Pilar RIC, famer and fisherman groups, and many more made the parade more alive and joyful. At some stops, the Kasinagan dance was performed by those who paraded. The final Kasinagan dance as tribute and thanksgiving to Our Lady of the Pillar was performed right in front of the church.
After the dance was the looked forward to La Torre where six remarkable bands competed against one another to vie for the best band and best majorette titles. These bands will also be the ones parading the town during the Fiesta to play cheerful music for the townsfolk. The winners for the band competition were as follows:
1st – Nuestra Senora del Pilar Band
2nd – Band 55
3rd – Band 93
For the majorette competition, the winners were:
1st- William Band
2nd – Band 93
3rd – Nuestra Senora del Pilar Band
The crowd was overwhelmed with the music played by each band and was mesmerized by the jaw dropping exhibition skills of the majorettes.
The night before the Fiesta was the also anticipated Amateur Singing Contest. Eleven children and adults vied for the championship. The contestants wowed the audience with their powerful and enchanting singing voices. The winners were:
Kids Division
Champion – Nicah Loquias of Barangay Diwa
1st – Rhobie John Tabugan of Barangay Alauli
2nd – Chrizia Obello of Barangay Nagwaling
3rd – Denise Kyle s. Almazan of Barangay Panilao
4th – jayacent S. Micosa of Barangay Pantingan
Adult Division
Champion – Krissia Jane Binungcal of Barangay Santa Rosa
1st – Reynante Baino of Barangay Alauli
2nd – Lorie Jayne Alcantar of Barangay Panilao
3rd – Hazel Niña D. Tabaquero of Barangay Santa Rosa
4th – Resty Canlapan of Barangay Wawa
On October 12, the Feast Day, three morning masses were celebrated at the parish church. The 9:00AM mass was the concelebrated mass celebrated by Bishop Ruperto Santos along with the well-loved priests of Bataan.
After the afternoon Fiesta mass, an enormous and astonishing fireworks display was showcased. The fireworks was definitely world-class and made Pilarians felt the Fiesta celebration even more.
As if these incredible activities were not enough, a mini concert will be held on October 31, 2015 at the Municipal Covered Court at 7:00PM for the Night of the Stars. Bianca Umali and Miguel Tan Felix and Ella Cruz are some of the popular artists to grace the show.
Mayor Alicia D. Pizarro was very energetic, supportive, and enthusiastic all throughout the entire Festival. She inspired and thanked each one who fully supported all the events for a successful celebration of the Fiesta. She tirelessly attended every activity and never refrained from inspiring, cheering on, thanking, and reminding all Pialrians of every activity lined up to make the Kasinagan Festival successful.