April 27, 2024

The scorching hot sun is not a hindrance to the energetic townspeople of Bauang as they celebrated the Wet and Cool Parade of the Kalgaw Festival 2024. The Festival, impressively, is already at its whopping 8th year. The Bauang Tourism Office with the tagline Pasiar Bauang, organized the joyous Festival. The program, from the Plaza to the beach of Baccuit Sur, was hosted by DJ Justin Bibbo of Love Radio La Union and Ms. Korina E. Ma, Municipal Information Officer.

The program started just before 4 PM, when the Municipal Officials were ready for the splash. Even before that, at around 3 PM, scores of Bauangeños were already assembling at the Plaza. Kalgaw shirts, water guns, and waterproof phone cases were availed from the Tourism Office. Lined up beside the Plaza stage were drums of clean water where excited townspeople kept refilling their colorful water guns. Every single participant was already shot and sprinkled with water long before the program started.

Sangguniang Bayan Member Tanya Roberta A. De Guzman provided the Opening Remarks followed by Vice Mayor Henry A. Bacurnay, Jr. for the Opening Message. Finally, the beloved Town Mayor Eulogio Clarence Martin P. De Guzman III delivered his Kalgaw Message and ended it with signal of the beginning of the Parade.

The Wet and Cool Parade finally started to the beat of loud pop songs and was strategically escorted by line agencies, namely the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

At the beach of Baccuit Sur, where the culminating party was held, concessionaires were already hyped with excitement to serve the exhausted but amused parade-goers. There was a bone-breaking exhibition by the Tong-Il Moo Do Martial Arts. The never-tiring Kalgaw Dancers, who had been leading the crowd to dance from the Plaza to the Parade, performed to the tune of Pantropiko by BINI. The crowd was also pumped by the energy of the Balawis Dancers from Baccuit National High School.

The much-awaited Foam Party commenced, while party-goers danced to DJ Ven Lee’s bursting beats. Bands of different genres played for the audience while the Ginuman Fest courtesy of Ginebra San Miguel (GSM) was ongoing. We had Blue Corn, Ecstasy Acoustic, ChainStay, Blueprint, and Ella Banana.

Kalgaw Festival brought together the people of Bauang into a big cheerful family. Everyone laughed at each others’ faces while water sprinkles all around. It symbolizes our folks’ dedication for Bauang.