ILOILO – The 47th Carabao-Carroza Festival of the municipality of Pavia kicks into high gear today, a day before the town celebrates its annual fiesta.
In the much anticipated annual race of carabaos at the football ground of Pavia National High School, 18 entries would be seeing action, said Sheila Hismana, municipal tourism officer.
The 18 entries represent the 18 barangays of Pavia – Aganan, Amparo, Anilao, Balabag, Purok I (Poblacion), Purok II (Poblacion), Purok III (Poblacion), Purok IV (Poblacion), Cabugao Norte, Cabugao Sur, Jibao-an, Mali-ao, Pagsanga-an, Pandac, Tigum, Ungka I, Ungka II, and Pal-agon.
Hismana said the annual Carabao-Carroza Festival, considered to be the oldest in Iloilo, has enhanced Pavia’s tourism industry, citing the surge in tourists each year.
“This is the only festival nga wala sang street dancing pero ang amon local and outside tourists nagatan-aw gid,” she said.
The competing carabaos would each be pulling carrozas as they try to outrun one another to reach the finish line.
The top three finishers would get the following cash prizes:
* champion – P10,000
* first runner-up – P7,000
* second runner-up – P5,000
The rest of the racers would get P2,500 each as consolation prize.
Before today’s race, there would be a “Parade of Gaily Decorated Carabao-Carrozas” at 6:30 a.m. It will start at the Commission on Audit – Region 6 area in Barangay Ungka 1 and wind up at Pavia National High School.
The parade will be joined by, among others, local officials of Pavia and barangay officials.
The muses of Pavia’s 18 barangays would also be joining. Their floats would be carrozas. Later in the evening they would be competing for the Carabao-Carroza Festival Queen crown.
Meanwhile, winners of the contest “most gaily decorated carabaos” would be receiving the following cash prizes: first place – P10,000; second, P7,000; third, P5,000; and a consolation prize of P2,500 each for the rest.
This year’s festival and town fiesta theme is “Pavia: Advancing Towards a Globally-Competitive Community.”
Tomorrow, there would be a series of masses at the parish church of Pavia (Santa Monica Parish Church), religious procession, baptismal rites, coronation of Little Saint Monica and Little Saint Augustine, and Pista sa Pavia Dance Party.
Other events already held in the days leading to the festival and fiesta were the following:
* grand fiesta opening parade and program, opening of Agri-Fair and Miss Summer Gay (April 25)
* Pavia’s Got Talent (April 26)
* 1st Pavia Off Road Challenge and LGU-Pavia Employee’s Night (April 27)
* District of Pavia Awards Night (April 28)
* All Night Comedy Show (April 29)
* Summer Pahampang Awards Night (April 30)
* Pavia National High School Alumni Night (May 1)
* Boom Boom Sa Cabarao Carroza (The 1st Inter School Drum & Lyre Competition, May 2)/PN
