MardiGras and Float Competition highlight Tunafest ’09 culmination
The Mardi Gras Competition and Tuna Float Parade of Lights Competition of the recently concluded Tuna Festival 2009 of General Santos City was the most awaited event of the entire celebration.
Of course, the Tuna Float Competition was already a given box-office attraction, more so that it was reinvented. On the other hand, this was only the first time that the MardiGras was conducted for the festival. Judging from both concepts, the Tuna Festival organizers were sure that they had a double whammy winners.
On September 5, the culminating day itself, people from all walks of life and from around the region and elsewhere, trooped to the colorfully-decorated Pioneer Avenue as early as 8 in the morning although the Carousel Parade would only be starting at 3pm. The rest waited inside the newly unveiled sprawling paradise-of-a-park, the Plaza Heneral Santos (fronting the City Hall).
At 1pm, the contingents from six different schools and the tuna floats began assembling and taking their designated places along Pioneer Avenue‘s lanes. This was when photographers (from as far as Manila, the US and Europe) started swarming on the costumed mardigras dancers and awesomely conceptualized tuna floats and clicked like there was no tomorrow. Only God knows how much gigabytes of shots were taken that afternoon.
The weather at this time was cooperating – sun not so hot, a strong breeze from Sarangani Bay was cooling everyone. The generals and a lot of visitors from other localities, were in a festive, jovial mood. The celebratory atmosphere was even heightened when the giant speakers along the sidewalks of Pioneer Avenue and Roxas Avenue began simultaneously playing the new Tuna Festival Theme Song composed and arranged by Martin Leyson.
To tell you more of the story, here is a video by Danny Go, as commissioned by the Tuna Festival Council.
And here are some pictures which will tell you even more about the Tuna Festival Mardi Gras and Float Competitions and other activities during the culmination of the celebration for GenSan’s 41st Charterhood Anniversary. All these were shot by Bariles unless otherwise stated.
GenSan City Mayor leads the releasing of doves during the Opening Program of the 41st Charter Anniversary Celebration on Sept 5. From left are Congressman Teddy Casino, Congresswoman Darlene Custodio, Dra. Rose Acharon, Vice Mayor Flor Congson & Tunafest Director Orman Manansala.
The Crowd at the junction of Pioneer Avenue-Roxas Avenue-Pendatun Avenue. Behind them is the Plaza Heneral Santos.
The Crablets of SPED Elementary School. The group was declared Champion-Elementary Catergory.
MardiGras Dancers from MSU give it their all!
A female pirate MardiGras dancer smile meekly. Photo by Chattee.
A MardiGras Sea Creature from one of the city's high schools
Sea Flowers in Full Bloom
The TSP Marine entry up close
RD Group of Companies' Plane-like Tuna Float
Another Tuna Float Entry, this time from SAFII.
Check back for more pictures…
Related posts:
- Fishdance Reloaded ’09 steps up the competition!
- Ms.GenSan 2009 Quest begins!
- Bodyfest 2009 guidelines released!
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Bariles is a Filipino word for “Tuna”, the primary source of income of the people of General Santos City which hosts 6 of the Philippines’ 8 tuna canneries and more than 80% of its tuna processing plants.
BrAvO SiX Says:
fantastic pictures..!
at last nakita ko rin ulit ang Gensan…. kahit sa pictures lang..ok na!
wanna go home..!
Posted on September 16th, 2009 at 6:27 PM
orman Says:
bonggacious ever ang video ng mardi gras! nauna ka nanaman ter! di pa namin bayad yan…hahahahha!
nagkabaliktad ang floats ng rd group and safii… paki-change lang.
ang ganda tingnan especially nakuha mo rin ang shots ng mga nanonood! mabuhay!
.-= orman´s last blog ..Good Manners & Right Conduct =-.
Posted on September 16th, 2009 at 7:34 PM
BrAvO SiX Says:
fantastic pictures….. salamat at nakita ko ulit ang gensan kahit lang sa mga pix na yan at video..kakahomesick tuloy..waaaaaaa!
wanna go home…!
how i miss that place so much!
sigh!
Posted on September 17th, 2009 at 3:59 AM
orman Says:
@bravo six — umuwi ka na kasi… ang robinson’s mall sa october 5 na ang opening. may ginagawang building din sa tabi ng landbank hiway and i heard chow king daw ito. sa may dating nissan display center sa hiway, ginagawa na din ang CHIMES gensan… sosyalan na talaga! east asia is also bent on pursuing their expansion plans… uber na na talaga…
.-= orman´s last blog ..Let the (Shopping) Countdown Begin… =-.
Posted on September 17th, 2009 at 6:51 AM
fahdingding Says:
Wow! October 5 na talaga ang ROBINSONS! Di na talaga ito papipigil! Chowking pala yun kuya? kasi marami nagsasabi baka ito daw yung 3 Storey Medical Laboratory na itatayo ng Doctor’s Hospital… Where ba yung old nissan center kuya and what is CHIMES Gensan? hehehehehe! pati ROYALE Hotel, makikipagsabayan na ring! YAHOO…. Booming na ulit ang GENSAN…. Go,Go,GO…
Magandang GENSAN!
Posted on September 17th, 2009 at 9:01 AM
fahdingding Says:
Nice Pictures Kuya AVEL… The Best Tuna Fest so far…
Posted on September 17th, 2009 at 9:05 AM
GenSan Morbanitoes Says:
Hi Bariles,
Our MOuntain Bike race on Oct. 11 is fast approaching and wish ko lang na makunan mo ang event katulad nitong mga pictures mo na wow super ganda… assembly time is 7 am at General Santos Covered Basketball court near Oval Plaza.
Posted on September 17th, 2009 at 10:44 AM
nikkolai leyson Says:
waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.. daghan salamat GTX2009.. ka sadya jud kaayo.. perpek 10.. mas panindota pa ninyo ug maayo nextyer.. salamat
Posted on September 17th, 2009 at 1:41 PM
fahdingding Says:
Looking Forward for GTX2010! Wow, Nice ang GTX…
Posted on September 17th, 2009 at 4:43 PM
Norma Canda Says:
hi vel,
my dear please post more pix re tuna fest activities. lalu na yong mardi gras and float parade. mwah…tnx…mis gensan so much………..
Posted on September 18th, 2009 at 2:36 AM
fahdingding Says:
And I Love GENSAN so much………. Parang FANATICO na nga eh!
Posted on September 18th, 2009 at 11:44 AM
white_knight Says:
nice shots! pang world class talaga ang dating. Basi mo daghan na jud tourists nato diri…
Posted on September 21st, 2009 at 5:42 PM
trista Says:
GEnsan is getting better and better and job well done. I really do appreciate their latest celebration and I could say that I am proud being raised in gensan…more power and more development pa….
Posted on September 24th, 2009 at 6:32 PM