‘Pinoy pride’ dominates Subic ‘Karakol’ festival

The Subic Free port community celebrated this year’s “Karakol” festival with a twist — a three-day barrio fiesta that extolled the unique culture and talent of Filipino workers who sustained the economic growth of this free port.

The fiesta, which was held in honor of San Roque, Subic Bay ’s patron saint, culminated on Monday with the certified crowd hit Karakol parade, which saw participants from both the public and private sectors here dressed up according to the authentic Filipino fiesta theme.

About a thousand participants in barong Tagalog, Filipino terno and various indigenous costumes assembled in front of the San Roque chapel here, which was originally built by the Spaniards, before making the rounds of Subic ’s central business district.

Along the way, building façades were gaily festooned with the best of native fiesta decorations in a “building-dress-up” contest initiated by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) weeks before the celebration.

Subic ’s tree-lined streets also became more colorful with ‘banderitas’ that served as backdrop for the street dancing contest that was incorporated in the parade. Group entries for this contest that came mostly from schools in and around the free port competed for the P10,000 cash prize.

The parade was led by a carriage containing the statue of San Roque, patron saint of those with terminal illness and contagious disease, followed by the SBMA brass band playing fiesta music. Then came the participants in the street dance who donned costumes representing various Filipino ethnic groups — from the Ifugaos in the north, to the Tagalogs of the central plains, to groups from Visayas, and then the Muslims in the South.

Meanwhile, various farm produce, implements and animals were displayed on floats, or carried by the dancers themselves, lending more color to the spectacular display.

By lunchtime, participants feasted on Filipino delicacies in true Pinoy style— spread on banana leaves and eaten with bare hands.

SBMA administrator Armand Arreza said this was the first time that Subic ’s Karakol festival has centered on a “purely Pinoy” perspective— providing tourists with the authentic sight, smell, taste, and sound of a barrio fiesta.

Arreza said it was one of those times when the Subic Freeport community convened as one, thanking God for his blessings, and appreciating each other for the wonderful work each has done for Subic Bay.