In the street dancing activity that kicked off recently, characters from hit movies like “Grease,” “Sister Act,” “The Matrix” and “Moulin Rouge,” as well as Miss Universe “contestants” assembled at the San Roque chapel, for their attractive costumes lending color and fun to the otherwise sedate occasion.

The cast of Hollywood characters were actually employees of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and students of schools, who donned well-prepared costumes and heavy make-up in an effort to give pleasure to the tourists that looked forward to the annual Karakol festival.

SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza, however, said the festivity has not abandoned its original religious purpose despite the modern elements.

Arreza, said the modern celebration only reflects the Subic lifestyle, which, he described is a blend of the past and the present.

“You can call this a strategy to catch the younger generation’s attention, so that they are introduced to their historical roots,” he said.

“But that is just like icing on a cake. The celebration’s core message-the spiritual significance-remains unaltered,” he added.

Arreza noted that this “past-present strategy” is applied by the SBMA even in the physical development of the Subic Freeport, wherein modern facilities are being constructed to blend with historical landmarks that date back to Spanish and American periods.

Raul Marcelo, SBMA deputy administrator for tourism, said the Karakol festival is one of the most awaited events held annually at Freeport.

He said SBMA departments and business locators here took turns sponsoring the week-long mass offerings at the San Roque chapel, which was built for Spanish sailors and Filipino converts to Christianity during the 1800’s.

Enshrined in the chapel is an image of San Roque from Segovia, Spain, which was given as a gift to the people of Olongapo by a prominent resident of Cavite in 1905.

Marcelo, said that while modern facilities mushroomed here in the past two decades, historical landmarks such as the San Roque chapel were preserved, thereby providing a venue for residents and visitors alike to trace the cultural roots of the Subic Bay area.

Aside from the San Roque chapel, other top historical attractions here are Tappan Park, the oldest park in the Subic Freeport-Olongapo area; the Spanish Gate, the main gate to the Naval Station built here by Spaniards; and the Admiral’s Guest House, which was built during the early American period.

These structures are all within the central business district of the Subic Bay Freeport and are now easily accessible to tourists.

Outside of the business district, historical attractions include the World War II-era battery installations at the Grande Island, as well as several shipwrecks at the bottom of the Subic Bay.

Organized as Saray Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative, the farmers have availed of the PineappleGrow project under the ARBs Agribusiness Enterprise Development Program (AREDP) of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

The pineapple plantation in Saray covered 10 hectares with some 229 beneficiaries that include the members of the coop and nearby residents who found employment in the project as farm workers.

PineappleGrow is a joint undertaking of the Department of Agrarian Reform, Del Monte Philippines, Inc., Land Bank of the Philippines and local government units with the participating individual farmers or farmer organizations.

The DAR is responsible for the overall coordination and implementation of the project.

Del Monte provides the technology and serves as the market, while Land Bank extends financial assistance to the farmer-growers.

The support of the concerned local government units is likewise indispensable in the project.

Engr. Felix Aguhob, the newly-installed DAR-10 Regional Director led DAR officials and staff who joined the farmers in the celebration.

AREDP Deputy Program Director Gomercindo Tumbali witnessed the event together with Land Bank of the Philippines representatives led by Manager Cesar Magallanes, Florencio Macapondag of Del Monte Philippines, Inc., Kagawad Jimmy Caiña of the provincial government of Misamis Oriental and Kagawad Emeterio Tagarda of the municipal government of Salay.

Anthony de Leon said with such expectations, all sectors here, especially the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), are now prepared for those big events which in the last 13 years have drawn a crowd at an average of one million.

He assured that because this year’s flower festival edition is timed for the city’s observation of 100th foundation anniversary.

“We see to it that several innovations will further make our streetdancing and float parade the best in 14 years,” de Leon said.

He said that aside from the hotels and restaurants’ readiness for the expected influx of visitors, the local police and volunteer groups have already conducted dry run in directing traffic flow, crowd control and the full security of the visitors and residents.

During a press conference here Monday, Mayor Raymar Rebaldo said they are planning to maximize the local tri-media and tap other resources to promote the festival in honor of its patron saint Sto. Nino.

The recently concluded Ati-atihan festival held last week saw thousands of revelers attending it that even the festival organizers were surprised to note that the Sunday procession which usually lasts for four hours only has extended to seven hours.

“The recent Ati-atihan is also successful because of the peace and order. There is no casualty during the revelry,” said Rebaldo.

BFFFI ‘09 Executive Committee co-chairmen, Anthony De Leon of Baguio Country Club and Frederico Alquiros of Camp John Hay, assured that despite the looming global financial crisis, they are will doing their best to come up with more, better and quality events with the assistance of their sponsors.

As part of the Baguio Centennial celebration, De Leon claimed the Panagbenga this year would have more and bigger events with lots of surprises for the locals and visitors to enjoy. Add to this the very cool temperature in the City that is expected to last until next month, that would be experienced by the local and foreign tourists.

During the launching of Panagbenga, Amboy Guevara, Chief of Staff for Panagbenga 2009, announced that the grand opening will be on February 1, with a parade, and Street Dancing Competition. There will also be a free concert at 6pm at the Melvin Jones Football Field, featuring an all female performer group from Manila called “Sani Pilif”. The opening day will be capped by a fireworks display in the evening.

During the free concert, there will also be a raffle draw, wherein holders/buyers of raffle tickets will have a chance to win a 3days/2nights trip to Singapore or Macau or Boracay – for two. Raffle Tickets cost P250 each and are now available at Mario’s, Cantineta, Baguio Country Club and the Secretariat Office.

Some major events lined-up for the Panagbenga 2009 are: Fluvial Parade at the Burnham Lake on Valentine’s Day, February 14 – which includes a presentation in the middle of the lake, circus performers going around/dine-in places around the lake and a fireworks in the evening.

The much awaited Grand Street Parade will be February 28 and a Float Parade is on March 1. De Leon reported that some street dancing groups from the lowlands have signified their intentions to participate.

We have targeted 50 floats this year, higher than last year’s 33 floats. Basically because we have waived the registration fee that the committee should be collecting from the participants, De Leon explained.

Also included as major events are: “Market Encounter” and a Landscaping contest in Burnham Park; “Session Road in Bloom” from March 2-8 wherein Session road will be closed for vehicular traffic and open for revelers for a week; Abanao Nights – February 26-28. Other major events are still being coordinated as of press time.

Numerous minor events throughout the month-long celebration, are also lined-up at the SM City Baguio, and in other venues in the city like the Baguio Convention Center, Melvin Jones, Burnham Park and the Athletic Bowl.

More than one million visitors are expected to come up to Baguio City which would be a great contribution to the income of business establishments and primarily to the economy of the city, De Leon said.

Meantime, Baguio City Police Office chief PSSupt Wilfredo Franco assured maximum deployment of personnel and maximum BCPO operations, to ensure the safety of Panagbenga visitors and revelers, and to manage traffic situation in the city. The BCPO already released a traffic and route/re-routing advisory for the Panagbenga 2009 Opening, Grand Street and Float parades and the “Session Road in Bloom” event.

“Panagbenga” or Baguio Flower Festival is a brain child of Mr. Damaso Bangaoet. It was first staged in February 1995. Now on its 14th year, it remains the biggest crowd drawer in Baguio City.