City Information Officer (IO) Sheila Covarrubias said “the festival will kick off December 2 with the traditional lantern parade and the opening program that will be highlighted by the ceremonial switch on of lights in City Hall and Plaza Pershing and the Paseo del Mar Christmas landmarks.”

Covarrubias shared, “City Mayor Celso Lobregat will spearhead the over 2000 city officials and employees in the lantern parade that will reel off 5:30 pm of Dec. 2.”

The active lady IO said other activities during the two-week festivity include the best dressed santa caluse competition set on Dec. 8; Canciones de Zamboanga , a chorale competition set on December 9; while December 15-17 is set for Christmas Food Festival, an exhibit of all specialties and delicacies saved during Christmas season .

Covarrubias added “the entry evaluation of the best Christmas landmark competition will be held Dec. 12-16.”

“The Pascua na Zamboanga is one of the most celebrated festivals and celebrations in the city that makes the celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ even more meaningful,” Covarrubias was quoted as saying. (JPA/PIA-ZBST)

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The festival seeks to involve the community and provide wholesome entertainment to local residents as well as visitors in this city during summer.

Of the 46 entries, 20 registered in the Flat Kite (jumbo) and 15 in the Figure Kite (jumbo) categories while eight in Flat Kite (smallest) and three in Figure Kite (smallest) categories.

Glenn Saavedra of Barangay Guiwan went home with a total cash prize of P16,000 as two of his entries won the first prize — at P5,000 each — in the Flat Kite (jumbo) and Figure Kite (jumbo) categories.

Saavedra also received two trophies on top of the first prize awards.

Saavedra’s two other entries were named as the favorite of the crowd — special award — in the Flat Kite and Figure Kite categories with P3,000 cash prize in each of the category.

Carlos Cabudol of Barangay Victoria went home with a total prize P6,000 as two of his entries won special awards in the Flat Kite (smallest) and Figure Kite (jumbo) categories with P3,000 cash prize in each of the category.

Ferrielyn Alama won the second place and Prince Mar Revillas placed third in the Flat Kite category and received a cash prize of P3,000 and P2,000, respectively.

Nestor Delgado grabbed the second place and Dudung Ramos placed third in the Figure Kite category and received a cash prize of P3,000 and P2,000, respectively.

The entries of Ronald Aquino and Cyril Saavedra won a special award in the Flat Kite category (jumbo) and Figure Kite category (smallest), respectively and received a cash prize of P3,000 each.

The kite flying competition was held at the Paseo del Mar, which is the newest tourist attraction of this southern port city.

Hundreds of spectators witnessed the competition, sponsored by the city government through the City Tourism Office.

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Organized by the Philippine Tour Operators (PHILTOA), Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC), the 3-day event will feature tourism areas in the country.

The city government under the auspices of Mayor Celso Lobregat, along with other cities and provinces in Zamboanga Peninsula will showcase its respective tourism and trade potentials through the destination and product exhibits with the assistance of DOT regional office and the DTI city office.

The event will formally open 3pm on Friday, Sept. 7. Zamboanga City will host a luncheon briefing dubbed “Hola Zamboanga…Asia’s Latin City” at the opening day at the conference room B, level 5, building B of the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

Expected to attend the said luncheon briefing are some 100 foreign and local buyers of tour packages with Mayor Lobregat spearheading the tourism blitz focusing on Zamboanga City’s rich cultural heritage and diverse and ever-growing set of tourist attractions.

Zamboanga City is the only Philippine Travel Mart participant that has been given a slot to do the direct sales mission.

The luncheon briefing is being made possible with the assistance of District I Congresswoman Beng Climaco, PHILTOA, Philippine Tourism Authority and DOT IX. (PIA ZC)

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Mayor Celso Lobregat said top officials of the airline company indicated to him their plan to fly the Zamboanga-Sandakan-Kota Kinabalu route during their meeting last week.

He said Mosphil Aero has initially scheduled its maiden flight on August 25 using a medium-size Russian-made Antonov aircraft.

Such aircraft has a seating capacity of 48 passengers and can carry at least five tons of cargoes. It will fly at least three times a week.

Lobregat said the airline firm is also targetting Jolo, Tawi-Tawi and Davao as their key areas in Mindanao.

Lobregat expressed optimism the opening of a new air route could help boost the local tourism industry.

At present, a commercial ferry sails weekly from this city to Sandakan and vice-versa.

Mosphil will operate low-cost passenger and cargo flights covering various domestic and international destinations from its base of operation in Clark Air Base, Pampanga.

(PNA)

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