Oroquieta’s Grand Concept Parade, New Tourist Attraction

City Officials led by City Mayor Jason P. Almonte in their costumes in the Grand Concept Parade. They chooses the concept of the Pirates of the Caribbean.....photo by Omai Roa

By PJTremedal, BNDMIsOC-CIB/OCM

Oroquieta City – In honor of its patron Saint the Lady of the Holy Rosary the City of Good Life once again proved that it will be the next tourism destination of Northern Mindanao. Last October 15, a day before the city fiesta one of its major activity was the grand Concept Parade visualize and conceptualize by the SP Committee on Tourism under the chairmanship of Hon. Ruvy “Alay” Ala, Mr. Jay Lorenzo, Tourism Officer –Designate, and their team conceptualize and visualize a new tourist attraction, the parade of all parade which was participated by more or less contingent from people’s organization, NGO’s , Government sector, Schools, Barangays and even business establishments.

The Grand Concept Parade is an array of costumes, props, and even copycats of various indigenous culture and arts were paraded and joined the festivities. Every contingent joyfully show their might in transforming the city a new haven for tourist, local or foreigner it may be, the parade will definitely become a new tourist attraction every October in each year.

“We hope that next year’s celebration will be different, as the DOT Regional Director advises us, the city’s grand concept parade will be named into a popular title that will surely lure local and foreign tourists. This year’s parade is the trial version but we were shock of the people’s participation, next year will be different” Hon. Ala said.

In the said parade, two categories were participated, the winning and the non-winning category.

In the winning category the city government prepares for a three grand prizes; 25-T for the champion contingent, 20-T for the second best, and 15-T for the third best place, while the non-winning entries are form government sectors and other groups that wants to participate but not contestants.

“Even the rain can’t stop the parade”, some participants were heard saying.

In the winning categories, the board of judges declared the Misamis Occidental National High School as the grand champion and runs away with the 25-T cash prize and trophy, while Barangay Villaflor was the second best and wins the 20-T cash prize with trophy and the third best was Mindanao University of Science and Technology and the Mobod Barangay Council and received the 15-T cash prize.

“We thank all Oroquietanons for the grand participation, and we hope that next year will be more joyous and peaceful.” City Mayor Jason Almonte said who also join the parade in costumes with the Sangguniang Panlungsod led by City Vice Mayor Harry Guantero in their concept of ”The Pirates of the Caribbean”.

As the parade went on to the streets of Oroquieta, people shouted and cheered, ”VIVA Birhen sa Santo Rosaryo”!