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Newest Philippine festival unfolds in Imus Cavite

Posted on May 18, 2008

MANILA, May 16 (PNA) — The newest Philippine festival with a historical twist will unfold in Cavite, the country’s seat of independence.

In time for the coming Independence Day, the town of Imus in Cavite, will commemorate on May 24 the victory of the Battle of Alapan that paved way to the first Philippine Republic when the Philippine Flag was first unfurled on May 28, 1898.

Imus, dubbed as the country’s flag capital, will celebrate the first Wagayway Festival on May 24-28 as a commencement of Kalayaan 2008.

The festival’s name “Wagayway” is a Filipino term that means wave, display or unfurl something that is folded such as a flag or banner.

Wagayway Festival hopes to recognize National Flag Day and Imus as a new tourist destination with the same caliber as Cebu’s Sinulog Festival, Bacolod’s Masskara Festival and the like.

Contrary to public beliefs, it was after the victory of the Battle of Alapan when then President Emilio Aguinaldo first waved the flag made by Marcela Agoncilio.

Aguinaldo again unfurled the same flag in nearby town of Kawit on June 12 of the same year along with the declaration of Philippine independence.

Imus Mayor Emmanuel Maliksi will head the country’s newest festival that will establish the town’s identity as a historical place.

“This festival will push Filipinos to be more patriotic to our flag and unlike other festivals which are religious in nature, this is a festival with historical and nationalistic theme,” he said.

The event will also highlight the bravery and patriotism of the revolutionaries against the Spanish forces.

“Unlike other festivals which are religious in nature, this is a festival with historical and nationalistic theme. It will be celebrated highlighting the bravery and patriotism of the revolutionaries who won the Battle of Alapan despite tremendous odds,” Maliksi said.(PNA)

Philippine News Agency

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