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.