Kaadlawan Festival by the beach still evokes Christmas spirit

This year’s Kaadlawan Festival in Tanauan, Leyte was held in a different venue, from the usual Tanauan Ampitheater to the Skimboarding Site at Bantay Dagat Area, but it still has not lost its crowd-drawing touch as thousands of people from all walks of life and of all ages came to witness the different presentations evoking the true spirit of Christmas.

Held on December 23, the Kaadlawan Festival is an array of performances presented by the town’s young talents in colorful Christmas costumes, from the selected kindergarten and elementary pupils, high school and college students, faculty and professional singing groups including the Tanauan Young Singing Ambassadors.

Mayor Roque Tiu said that the municipal government decided to transfer the venue as nightly activities are being presented at the Skimboarding Site since December 20 preparatory to the December 27 Opening of the 4th National Skimboarding Competition which will be held in the area.

The entire two-hectare area which has been decorated with

Christmas lanters, with kiosks scattered all over the area, huge tents to provide shelter for the spectators and the stage with the sea as its backdrop, provided a conducive atmosphere to this year’s Kaadlawan Festival.

As usual, most applauded were the presentations of the little singing ambassadors who rendered Christmas songs for children and the young toddlers from the various kindergarten centers whose enthusiasm in contributing their own talents to make the Festival an overall success, is worth emulating, Mayor Tiu added.

Not to be outdone are the presentations of the elementary and high school students from the various schools in Tanauan. Also featured was the town’s revitalized famous Balinsasayaw Singers which has earned international accolade in the seventies through its famous benefactor, the former First Lady of the Land.

Conceived and initiated by Mayor Roque Tiu in 1994, the Kaadlawan Festival is a fitting tribute to the Lord Jesus Christ in anticipation and in commemoration of His Birthday. This is a much-awaited event where the best talents from the different sectors and from the different schools of the municipality perform Christmas plays, songs and dances. It is an offering of the best talents to Him from whom all these good things come from.