Loon to celebrate 253rd feast day

ALL roads lead to the province's westernmost town, the municipality of Loon, come September 7, and 8 as it is set celebrate the 253rd feast day of its Patroness, the Our Lady of Light (Virgin sa Kasilak). Bearing “Piyesta sa Kasilak 2006: Sukaranan sa Kahiubos ug Pagpasabot sa Kabubut-on sa Diyos Taliwala sa mga Hagit sa Panahon”, Loon's municipal government , headed by Mayor Cesar Tomas M. Lopes, MD., a DILG 2003 Outstanding Mayor of the Philippines awardee, and Vice Mayor Edwin R. Ladeza, is leaving no stone unturned in making sure of a grand fiesta celebration.

The town's fiesta calendar began Wednesday, August 30, at 5:30 pm , with the traditional “Pagsugat sa Birhen sa Kasalilak” a fluvial parade from Mocpoc Wharf , Sandingan Island to Barangay Napo. Sponsors and participants of the fluvial parade included the Parish Pastoral Council, Kasilak devotees, Relampagos Clan (the caretaker of Kasilak,) religious organizations, University of Bohol-Loon, Sacred Heart Academy, Barangay Napo and Loon LGU.

Invitational ballgames were held Thursday evening at the Loon Sports and Cultural Center sponsored by the LGU and the Sangguniang Kabataan Municipal Federation (SKMF). Last Friday evening, the Sacred Heart Academy and the Rural Bank of Loon (Bohol), Inc. gave a cultural night entertainment in the joint presentation of the “Kaleidoscope: A night of Songs and Dances” at the Loon Sports and Cultural Center. Last night, September 2, LGU-Loon and the youth organization Future Pillars of Napo presented the cultural extravaganza “Loon Talent Factory” bannered by Local talents and award-winning alternative bands.

Tonight, September 3, all videoke enthusiasts will pit their talent in singing as the Beer na Beer Trioke Challenge unfolds 8:00 pm at the Loon Sports and Cultural Center . This event is sponsored by Barangay Moto Norte and Asia Brewery (Beer na Beer). The Trioke Challenge is open to all 18 years old and above residents and non-residents of Loon. The three persons in a group may be made up of an all-male, all-female or any male-female combination that must wear costumes and sing any song in the video machine. A participating trio must present 12 bottle crowns (tansans) of Beer na Beer, register and audition at the residence of Moto Norte Barangay Captain Rosendo Dorilag. First prize is P3T, second prize - P2T, third prize - P1T while best in costume gets P1T.

Tomorrow night, September 4, the halls of the Loon Sports and Cultural Center will reverberate with the SidlaKasilak 2006 Open Solo Singing Competition presented by the University of Bohol – Loon and First Consolidated Bank. On the evening of September 5, Tuesday, the Department of Education (Loon North and Loon South Districts) will entertain everyone with the “Dep-Ed Night: Pinoy Dream Academy” pattered after the popular ABS-CBN show. Wednesday, September 6, the traditional Yukbo sa Berhin sa Kasilak will commence at 5:00 pm along the town's principal streets. It will be participated by the Parish Pastoral Council, the Yukbo-Sayawit groups of Barangay Napo, Lintuan, Moto Sur, Moto Norte, Cogon Norte and LGU-Loon.

Wednesday night promises to be evening of fun and laughter with the “Lingaw-lingaw sa DES”, a variety show with live performers from Cebu sponsored by Du Ek Sam. At 8:00 pm on Vesper's Night, September 7, the sports and cultural center will be the perfect stage of the “Hulad, Hadla, Halad…Diwanag!” a cultural presentation of the Holy Name University Diwanag Dance Theater and San Miguel Beer Acoustic Performers. It is sponsored by LGU-Loon and San Miguel Beer.

On the night of September 8, feast day, is a non-stop disco of Live-Band Jammin's sponsored by the Sangguniang Kabataan Municipal Federation. To cap the fiesta activities on September 9, is the all-out boxing “Rakrakan sa Loon” sponsored by the Loon Amateur Boxing Association (LABAn). Boxers from Mindanao will display their skill, strength and stamina against Boholano fighters. The rumble in the ring will start at 2:00 in the afternoon at the Loon Sports and Cultural Center. In the evening, a Basketball challenge expected to be an exciting hard court battle by the visiting Pryce Gas Cagayan Team versus Team Loon also sets at the Sports and Cultural Center. Friends and out-of-town visitors are all invited to join and partake of the Loonanon hospitality as they unite to make this fiesta celebration a grand one and mark another chapter in the municipality's colorful history.

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