THE 66^th ARAW NG KAGITINGAN WAS CELEBRATED IN BATAAN FROM AS EARLY AS MARCH 30 UNTIL APRIL 11, 2008 WITH LOTS OF ACTIVITIES FOR BOTH YOUNG AND OLD.

THE MOUNTAIN BIKE CIRCUIT RACE, 3^RD PADYAKAN SA BATAAN 2008, WAS HELD AT THE KARAGATAN BAY VIEW PEAKS IN MARIVELES LAST MARCH 30, 2008. MOUNTAIN BIKERS FROM THE PROVINCES OF RIZAL, PAMPANGA, PANGASINAN AND AS FAR AS THE BICOL REGION AND MANILA PARTICIPATED IN THIS RACE WHICH SERVED AS THIS YEAR’S KICK-OFF EVENT. THE ACTIVITY WAS SPEARHEADED BY THE BATAAN TRAILRIDERS AND ADVENTURER’S NETWORK (BaTAAN) IN COOPERATION WITH THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT, MUNICIPALITY OF MARIVELES AND TOTAL PHILIPPINES. IT AIMS TO ENCOURAGE FUN AND SAFE RIDING, FRIENDSHIP, AND PROMOTION OF THE PROVINCE AS A SPORTS TOURISM HAVEN FOR OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST. CATEGORIES INCLUDE OPEN, AGE, INVITATIONAL/FUN, SINGLE SPEED, KIDS AND DOWNHILL, CATERING TO VARIOUS AGE BRACKETS FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN.

THE GALING BATAAN TRADE FAIR SHOWCASING THE BEST AMONG THE BEST PRODUCTS OF THE SME’S IN THE PROVINCE OPENED LAST APRIL 7 WITH MS. EMILY RELUCIO LOPEZ AND MS. CAMILLE VILLAR, DAUGHTER OF SENATOR AND CONGRESSWOMAN MANNY VILLAR. AMONG THE PRODUCTS SOLD HERE WERE ARMANDA’S MARINE PRODUCTS (PROCESSED FISH AND PASTE FRY), BAGAC FARMS (CASHEW AND BANANA CRACKERS), BEAKRIS HOUSE OF GOODIES (POLVORON AND TAMARIND BALLS) AND MARIVELES BAG MAKERS COOPERATIVE FOR THE MARIVELES BAGS.

SHOPPERS HAD THE CHANCE TO DROP BY AT THE LIFE SIZE DIORAMA LOCATED AT THE CAPITOL OVAL WHICH FEATURED SCENES TRANSPIRED DURING WORLD WAR II. SAID ARTPIECE WAS DONE BY THE BATAAN ARTIST SOCIETY, AN AUXILIARRY MEMBER OF SINING AT KULTURA NG LAHING BATAAN (SIKLAB).

IN THE VENING OF APRIL 7, THE PHILIPPINE MADRIGAL SINGERS SERENADED BATAEÑOS WITH THEIR BEAUTIFUL SONGS AND WONDERFUL VOICES ON A DINNER CONCERT MADZ IN BATAAN HELD AT THE CAPITOL GROUNDS.

LAST APRIL 8, EVEN OUR SENIOR CITIZENS DISPLAYED THEIR GRACE AND TALENT IN DANCING AS THEY PROVE THAT AGE DOESN’T MATTER IN THE FOLK DANCE EXHIBITION HELD AT PEOPLE’S CENTER. EACH MUNICIPALITY MOVED WITH EASE AND PASSION ON THE VARIOUS CULTURAL DANCES PERFORMED ON THIS DAY.

IN THE AFTERNOON OF APRIL 8, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, FROM BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS SHOWED HOW WELL THEY KNOW THE PROVINCE IN TERMS OF ITS HISTORY, CULTURE AND GEOGRAPHY IN THE “TAGISAN DIWANG BATAAN HISTORY QUIZ.” YOUNG ONES IN THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL ALSO SHOWED THEIR UNITY AND COORDINATION AS THEY LET THE JUDGES HEAR THEIR PIECE “BATAAN” IN THE SABAYANG PAGBIGKAS HELD AFTER THE HISTORY QUIZ. MS. RONALDYN DABU OF BALSIK NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL WAS THIS YEAR’S CHAMPION IN THE HISTORY QUIZ WHILE MORONG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WON IN THE SABAYANG PAGBIGKAS. BOTH ACTIVITIES AIMS TO INSTILL PATRIOTISM TO OUR YOUTH AND INCULCATE TO THEM HEROISM THAT THE PROVINCE PLAYED DURING THE WAR.

DURING APRIL 9, THE CEREMONY AT THE SHRINE OF VALOR IN MT. SAMAT PILAR WAS ATTENDED BY HER EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO, WITH OTHER DIGNITARIES, LOCAL OFFICIALS VETERANS AND GUESTS.

ON THE SAME DAY, THE PARADE OF FLOATS “PARADA NG KAGITINGAN” PARTICIPATED BY DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTION WITHIN THE PROVINCE SIMULTANEOUSLY STARTED IN TWO POINTS: AT BRGY. ALAS-ASIN IN MARIVELES AND AT THE DINALUPIHAN TOWN PLAZA. UPON REACHING BALANGA, THE PARADE MERGED WITH THE THREE HUNDRED PARTICIPANTS OF THE FOOT PARADE WHICH WAS JOINED BY THE BATAAN AIRSOFT TACTICAL SQUAD, BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE, MEMBERS OF PHILIPPINE NURSES ASSOCIATION, GIRL SCOUTS OF THE PHILIPPINES, BOY SCOUTS OF THE PHILIPPINES AND BPSU NURSING STUDENTS.

EACH MUNICIPALITY WORKED REALLY HARD IN MAKING THEIR FLOATS A REPLICA OF WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN THE BATTLE OF BATAAN AS IT AIMS TO DEPICT THE HEROISM OF FILIPINOS DURING THE WAR. RE-ENACTMENT OF WHAT TRANSPIRED IN THE DELAYING TACTIC WAR PLAN ORANGE 3 TILL THE DEATH MARCH PERIOD WAS SHOWN DURING THE PARANGAL SA MGA BAYANI, A TRIBUTE TO THE HEROISM OF BATAAN WAR VETERANS. IT TOUCHED THE HEARTS OF THE SPECTATORS AND GUESTS, ESPECIALLY THE VETERANS WHO WERE TEARY EYED AS THEY REMINISCE THE MOMENTS OF HARDSHIPS AND SACRIFICES AS THEY FOUGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY AGAINTS INVADING FORCES.

THE CEREMONY ENDED WITH A GRAND FIREWORKS DISPLAY AT THE CAPITOL GROUNDS.