Subic holds ‘Karakol’ festival

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The local community here 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 Freeport.

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 wearing 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” or flaglets 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.