Halaman Festival: Guiguinto’s Portraiture of Transcending Heritage

It all started in 1999.

Then newly-elected Mayor of Guiguinto Ambrocio Boy Cruz Jr. made possible a dream of every Guiguintenos back then to show the world how the municipality can be a pride of every Filipinos. It was the year the town gave birth to the now famous and one of the much awaited festivals in Bulacan, the Halamanan Festival.

The festival is an annual celebration for Guiguinteños corresponding with the town's foundation day and the Feast of its Patron San Ildefonso. It is a week-long merriment featuring Street Dancing Competition, Float Parade, the Mayor's Ulat sa Bayan and Landscaping Contests culminating on January 23 which is the town's fiesta.

At present times where modernity is engulfing history, an event like this is like a little fire of hope to remind every youth of their roots and to always go back to where they came from. And for the new generation of Guiguintenos, it is really helping them remember and at the same time, a good opportunity for them to show their talents in terms of performing arts and aesthetic; a two bird in one stone kind of festival.

“Masarap sa pakiramdam lalo na kapag nababanggit nila yung halamanan festival dahil dun ako nanggaling. Kasabay ng makulay na pagdiriwang, pagtanaw ito sa kagalingan at kasipagan ng mga Guiguintenyo.” said Rupert Roniel Laxamana, a known youth representative in Guiguinto who spearheaded activities in town involving the youth, and former editor of the town’s newsletter ‘Ang Guinto’.

According to him, the festival should be treated as one of the pride of every Bulakenyo, a great way to promote the agriculture industry of the town.

Regular youth from Guiguinto are also proud of the unique festival their hometown has.

“Nagsimula ako personally magkaroon ng awareness sa festival no’ng high school ako, kasi kasali ako do’n sa Indakan sa Kalye, ‘yong street dancing contest, tapos ayon taon taon ko na s’ya inaabangan kahit hindi na ako kasali. Nakikita ko sikat na s’ya ngayon kaya sobrang proud ako,” said Jane Tricia Cruz a native from Tuktukan.

Furthermore, Cruz thinks that every year the festival is getting grander and for her that’s a positive improvement from how the festival is celebrated from the past years.

Not only Guiguintenos are proud of the said event, even the youth from other parts of Bulacan.

“Aware ako do’n at para sa’kin napakagandang activity s’ya ng Guiguinto kasi bibihira ‘yong mga festival na gano’n. Kadalasan kasi ‘di ba ‘yong history ang prinopromote nila, pero ang Halamanan [Festival] kasi, it’s also a promotion of the industry. Hindi lang s’ya pagbabalik tanaw pero nakakatulong din s’ya sa present generation,” said Florence Vila from Malolos.

Definitely, Halamanan Festival’s impact didn’t only stop in 1999. It still goes on up to the present, giving every Guiguinteno a reason for pride and living.

Journey to Pugad: A Sunburn Worthy Trip

I was never a fan of travelling; I’d rather stay home and read than experience the hassle of going somewhere. For me, it’s time-consuming and a total waste of energy, but I can’t believe that a mere trip for a journalism class will turn things around. Please, don’t laugh, but the place I’ve been referring to is within my province only.


I went to Hagonoy, Bulacan and I never was the same again after.


You might raise your eyebrows knowing where I went. I know it is not as extravagant or as exciting as going to Boracay, or to Bohol. There was no beach party to anticipate, no grand hotel to stay in, no selfie-worthy background to snap upon to. It was almost boring. I admit I was half-hearted while preparing myself that morning. I can’t imagine how much regret I will feel if I decided to stay home that day.




Brgy. Pugad, Hagonoy Bulacan is not a paradise. The councilor even warned us before the trip that we have to expect the worst; dirty water, garbage, clogged drainage, and every face of poverty. I felt uncertain, not knowing what to expect. When I went into the boat, all I was praying is to be back as soon as possible.


The moment the motor started, I closed my eyes and felt the breeze of the air. I smelled the sea. I smelled the coming adventure, still, I’m uncertain. When we got to the barangay, we were welcomed by old dilapidated houses, and children eyeing us in questioning looks. It was not a good first impression for me. We walked under the scorching heat of the sun, with dried fishes at the sidewalks and children following us. Half-day of not -so-good events and all I want to do is go back home.


Everything started to turn upside down when I got the chance to interview and interact with the people.


There was a lot of stories of loyalty, like how Manang Isabelita told me her childhood days and why she stayed in Pugad despite the promises and opportunities the urbanized parts of Bulacan offered. It is because of the memories that no amount of money can replace.


Stories of survival were also in every corner. How people managed to survive typhoons and floods with gigantic waves from Manila Bay hitting their barangay. How they managed to survive poverty with fishing as one of their main options to live. Accounts of red tide and the impact of climate change to their only source of living.


There was a unique story of camaraderie, how Manang Mercedes is the official burial coordinator of the barangay. Pugad is an island which is the main reason why death is more difficult to bear with no cemetery around. They have to transport the body from Pugad to Hagonoy proper by 1-hour boat ride. Manang Mercedes is well-known by rendering her service to arrange everything from death to burial process, sometimes when the family is really in need, for free.


There was Teacher Josefina who also grew up there. She witnessed how difficult it is to get education in their barangay with only elementary school for the youth; she witnessed how politicians made promise every elections to give progress in the education system, and how those promises were broken everytime. But she is a living proof that anyone can be successful as long as he dream and work enough to achieve it. She graduated and became a professional teacher, and she chose to go back to her roots and teach in Pugad.


There was a tale of faith, how the numerous personal struggles and disasters a counselor in Pugad experienced restored his beliefs in God. From a drunkard man then, he’s now a public servant serving his barangay and teaching them how to believe when life is giving you many reasons not to.


And what really struck me, is the children. Those questioning eyes I met when we got there were in reality, eyes of the young ones who were excited to tell stories to new people, eyes of the young ones who yearns for attention from us. I told them stories, but they also told them theirs. Their dreams, like finishing their education and go back in Pugad as successful individuals. Their dreams for their hometown, their wishful thinking that one day, their barangay will be more suitable to live at, one day they will not rely to those politicians anymore as their hope, that they will be the hope their town has been waiting for so long. Their hopes that someday,people will not be afraid to go there and listen to their stories, people will visit their barangay not because of requirement but because they want to witness its beauty amidst poverty.


I was ashamed of how I judge Pugad by how it looks like when I first stepped my foot on it, how I judged the people the first time I saw them. I was humbled, how I constantly complains about the number of school works I have to do when there are youth like me who wanted to learn but didn’t had the opportunity to do so. I was very proud, of how Bulakenyos even in far-flung areas showed heroism in their own ways, like how our hometown heroes did in the history.


I came home that day with so many thoughts in my head. I came home exactly just like how I left it that morning; with few clothes, a notebook, a camera and some money, but I felt I brought home many more. I came home with lessons, experiences, stories to tell and a renewed perspective in life.


Funny how when I got into the boat that morning, all I want to do is go back home already, but when I got into the boat the second time around to leave, all I want to do that time is to plan when I will go back to Pugad again.