By HENRY EMPEÑO

BOTOLAN, Zambales — History, culture, and fun blended into a week-long colorful celebration for this town’s 206^th founding anniversary when residents and visitors joined in this year’s staging of the Pinatubo Festival from April 27 to May 4.

Two months prior to the actual celebration, two pre-festival events already kicked off to heat up anticipation for the upcoming festivities: the grand opening on March 9 of the “Padagaw nin Banowa 2025” inter-barangay sportsfest, which pitted village teams in basketball, volleyball, and sepak takraw; and the first screening on March 10 of candidates for the Mutya ng Botolan Turismo 2025, which gathered 18 barangay beauties for the competition.

At the formal opening of the festival on April 27, more than a thousand runners and cyclists crowded the streets for the “Muwayo Tamo” Color fun Run, Bike Fest & Zumbarangkada.

“The festival literally began with a burst of colors, a shower of happiness, and dancing on the streets as we have designed this opening salvo to be,” Mayor Jun Omar Ebdane said. “It was fun, and it gave everyone a taste of what’s to come.”

A prelude to the much-awaited competition for the “Mutya ng Botolan Turismo” also happened on the opening day with the pre-pageant night.

The following day, April 28, focused on culture, with the “Sining Biswal” art contest with the theme “Ikaw, Ako at ang Bulkang Pinatubo,” opening of the Agri-Tourism Showcase booths, and the alumni night for the Polytechnic College of Botolan.

April 29 highlighted the “Mangan! Pinatubo Cookfest” and the “Yabi nin Taw Tua Showdown”, which was a homage to senior citizens, while April 30 featured the exciting “Patundoyan 3.0” that saw Ayta menfolk with native bows and arrows in an archery contest, and the “Yabi nin Baw Botoleño” event.

On May 1, trekkers joined the “Mt. Pinatubo Grand Hike,” a voluntourism project that fielded 200 outreach volunteers to meet, connect and share blessings with Botolan’s indigenous tribal folk at the upland village of Villar. This was followed at night with the alumni night for the Botolan High School-Sta. Monica Parochial Institute.

May 2 featured a musical concert sponsored by Congresswoman Bing Maniquiz, which featured popular OPM entertainers like KZ Tandingan, Calein Band, Tiktok sensation Shaira, and Cue’s Band, while May 3 presented the grand coronation night for the Mutya ng Botolan competition.

The Pinatubo Festival ended on May 4 with a thanksgiving mass, the colorful “Talek Ha Kalsara” street dance competition and grand parade, and the Pinatubo Battle of the Bands that went on until late at night.

The champions in the various Pinatubo Festival competitions are:

• Mutya ng Botolan Turismo 2025: Nicole Angela G. Dequiña (Brgy. Santiago

• Talek ha Kalsara Street Dance Competition: Tribu Babayan

• Festival King & Queen: Jasper Aron Dimaquibo and Gem Daes (Tribu Mandaragat)

• Sining Biswal: Marvin Dizon

• Mangan! Pinatubo Cookfest: Brgy. Parel

• Vlog Competition: Jose D. Orbe Jr.

• Agri-Tourism Fair Booth: Brgy. Capayawan

• Battle of the Bands: Awteh Amakeh

• Men’s Basketball: Brgy. Batonlapoc

• Sepak Takraw: Brgy. Paco

• Men’s Volleyball: Brgy. Maguisguis

• Women’s Volleyball: Brgy. Beneg