After a three years hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Quezon City Government revived the much anticipated La Loma Lechon Festival.
Together with the Office of District 1 Rep. Arjo Atayde, and the La Loma Lechoneros Association (LLA), the festival brought back the many activities associated with the festival.
“Simula 2000, tuwing ikatlong Linggo ng Mayo, ipinagdiriwang natin ang Lechon Festival dito sa La Loma. Sa kasamaang-palad, pansamantala itong natigil dahil sa pandemya. Kaya naman ngayong, ginawa nating mas makulay, mas bongga at mas masaya ang ating selebrasyon sa Lechon Capital of the Philippines,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
“Hindi kumpleto ang birthday, graduation, anniversary, o binyag kung wala ang lechon. Kaya dito sa ating lungsod, ibinibida at ipinagmamalaki natin ang “star” ng mga selebrasyong ito,” Mayor Belmonte added.
Like the past celebrations, this year’s program included the parade of costumed lechons and the reinvention of lechon dishes. Several performances were also witnessed by QCitizens, including the concert of the city’s symphonic band.
The festival also celebrated the feast of La Loma District’s Patron, Nuestra Senora de Salvacion.
“Maituturing nating haligi na ng mayamang kultura ng Quezon City ang La Loma. For 50 years, hindi maikakaila na isa ito sa mga pinaka dinarayong destinasyon sa QC at sa buong Metro Manila,” QC Tourism Department OIC Ma. Teresa Tirona explained.
Quezon City first celebrated the La Loma Lechon Festival in 2000, when former LLA president Monchie Ferreros (Monchie’s Lechon) launched the Parada ng mga Lechon.
It was fully supported by the city government in 2002 under the administration of former city mayor Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte, through the enactment of City Ordinance 1221-2002.
In 2020, through City Ordinance 2961-2020, the city officially declared La Loma District as one of the Tourism Districts of Quezon City to further attract tourists and boost its economic activity.
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