THE streets of Iloilo will once again experience grandeur and piety when 30 Beauty Queen Sagalas all over Western Visayas will walk the heritage stretch from San Jose Parish Church to Casa Real passing through Plaza Libertad and Calle Real on May 30 for this year’s Santacruzan Ciudad de Iloilo.
This event is in line with the national government thrust of making the Western Visayas a premiere heritage tourist destination as well as Iloilo City government’s efforts to push Iloilo’s tourism development through increasing awareness among our populace of our religious/ cultural heritage. The project is spearheaded by the Iloilo City Tourism Council, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Iloilo, and the Iloilo City Government through the Iloilo City Tourism Development office.
This year’s Santacruzan will be grander as it will feature not only the creations of celebrated Ilonggo designers but also that of guest designers from Western Visayas who will provide the gowns of the beauty queen sagalas joining the procession. Heading the group of designers who pledged support to this project are designers from the Iloilo Fashion Designers Council.
Santacruzan Ciudad de Iloilo aims to instill in our residents and visitors the appreciation of our religious traditions anchored in our very strong faith in the Roman Catholic Church, Iloilo being the cradle of many heritage buildings mostly, churches. This event also provides an additional cultural tourism event product to the existing activities in the city.
Solemn procession will start at 4:00 p.m. after the 3:00 p.m. Holy Mass at San Jose Church and will culminate at Casa Real, Provincial Capitol grounds.
This event is supported by Panay News, Iloilo City Government, San Jose Parish Church, Dr. Felipe Uygongco, Nutrends, City Square, Mayor Joel Occena of Antique, Daphne Jean Salaysay, CTR Graphics, Yakult, Southwest tours, DoVa, University of Iloilo, GDR Taxi, Beauty Dynamics, and Draco Dubois.
The event is organized by the Events Management class of Doctor of Management major in Tourism and Hospitality students of Central Philippine University with The Perfect Planners and Travel and Marketing Experts Corp./PN
