Basey LGU to start off fiesta celebration with religious, socio-civic and livelihood activities

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
September 18, 2008

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar  –  Basey LGU will start its fiesta celebration with different activities that caters to religious, socio-civic and livelihood activities as it is bound to start its first novena day on September 19, 2008.

Mayor Wilfredo Estorninos in a phone interview bared that on September 19, there will be a hectic schedule for his Basey folks.

Early on, his Basey constituents being devotees of Patron Saint Michael Archangel will celebrate the Pagbungto (coming to settlement) Rites.

A motorcade is scheduled from Basey to Barangay Binungtuan Chapel where a Eucharistic celebration will take place. From Barangay Binungtuan, the Basey devotees will conduct the image of the Patron Saint in a fluvial parade to terminate in the municipal wharf. Then, the image will be conducted to Barangay Buscada Chapel through a procession.

After the procession, the faithful and devotees will conduct St. Michael to Basey Gym where a scheduled vigil will last until the morning of the following day.

While the faithful Basaynons will take turns in the vigil, barangay officials and municipal officials will hold a Municipal Development Council Meeting including people’s organizations (POs), Non-government Organizations (NGOs), and the two educational districts of Basey according to Val Estorninos, the municipal administrator.

As to pursuing livelihood activities, Basey LGU will inaugurate the Basey Manpower Training Center with TESDA.

The P1.5M building will house would be trainees to livelihood skills acquisition. Advance information received by PIA said bosses of TESDA, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) will attend the much awaited event.

All the activities will wind up at the Basey Municipal Gym in celebration of the ABC and LGU nite.

Basey has lined up several festivities to highlight with the longest Banig on September 28. Basaynons claim that Guiness Book of World Records will be setting a new record for this and said the event will be covered by major networks from Manila.

September 29 is the eve of the feast of St. Michael Arcangel, the centuries old Basey Church will be the center of all religious festivities.

According to writer Chito dela Torre, one of the oldest and earliest pueblos (towns) in the Philippine Islands, Basey is populated today by 43,809, most of whom are Roman Catholics who follow the teachings of Lord Jesus Christ and the practices of the Catholic Church.