The city government of Puerto Princesa announced that the Subaraw Biodiversity Festival is now a national event, and they envisioned to make it as an international event in the coming years.
Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron said that last November 2, 2019, they successfully launched the 2019 Subaraw Biodiversity Festival in Sitio Sabang, Barangay Cabayugan, which is now officially a national event, and he said that they will work hard to upgrade it into an international event.
“Yan ang direction natin sa festival na ito. Sa darating na panahon, Subaraw 2020 and beyond ay international event na. Kung pagtulung-tulungan natin ito ay hindi ito imposible kasi pambihira itong festival natin. Sa buong bansang Pilipinas tayo lang gumagawa ng Biodiversity Festival, at napakaganda ng kanyang chances, opportunities para ito ay maging full-blown national event,” he said.
The launching signals the start of the festival’s weeklong celebration in the different locations and venues of the city.
During this morning’s flag ceremony, the city presented the 30 official candidates of Miss Subaraw 2019. Aside from candidates representing the city and the different towns of Palawan, there are candidates from outside Palawan like Iloilo, Cebu, Negros, Aklan, Romblon, Batangas, Laguna, Bulacan, Bicol, Zambonga Sibugay, Ilocos Norte, Pampanga and the National Capital Region in Metro Manila.
Mayor Bayron further said that some city employees and department heads were present during the festival’s launching and it started with a Thanksgiving Mass.
While, Puerto Princesa City was spared from natural calamities such as the volcanic eruptions, devastating typhoons, earthquakes, Bayron said that there are many reasons, that Puerto Princesans should be very thankful of. Also during the flag ceremony, some several moments of silence and prayers, was offered to the victims of earthquake in Mindanao.
“Ang pinaka-una nating activity nitong launching ay Thanksgiving Mass. Ang pagpasalamat. Tayo ay dapat na magpasalamat dahil tayo ay naiiba. Hindi tayo binibisita ng mga sakuna, wala tayong lindol, hindi tayo tinatamaan ng bagyo, at walang tayong volcanoes dito sa Puerto Princesa. Malaki rin ang pasalamat natin sa presence ng PPUR (Puerto Princesa Underground River). Kaya pinapasalamatan natin ang dakilang lumikha,” he said.
Mayor Bayron then urged the city residents to participate the Subaraw Biodiversity Festival 2019 and help promote it through social media.
“Kailangan natin ang participation ninyo, sumali po tayo, manood tayo. E-post ninyo sa mga social media pages ninyo para makita ng maraming tao sa Pilipinas at sa ibang bansa,” he said.
The Miss Subaraw 2019 Grand Coronation Night will be on November 8, 2019, at the city coliseum. The grand parade and street dancing will be on November 11, 2019. The closing program will start at 7pm on 11th of November and will be followed by a fireworks display.