THOUSANDS TROOP TO GERONA FOR TOWN FIESTA

Thousands of visitors trooped to Gerona last Nov. 25 to partake in the celebration of the municipal fiesta.

Themed "A Gathering of Families," this year's town fiesta is one of the most participated activities held in the town of Gerona.

It was held on November 24-25.

Mayor Dennis Norman Go said he was amazed at the huge number of people who turned out to attend and watch the activities.

"If you have seen the crowd you'll be amazed at people who attended the activities. Where did those people come from, you might ask yourself," Go said.

Go was referring to the crowd during the Parokya ni Edgar Free concert, which chalked up 6,210 attendees, and the Variety Show, which filled up the whole plaza auditorium.

Mayor Go, Vice Mayor Ronjie Daquigan, and members of the Sangguniang Bayan spearheaded the fiesta celebration with a package of activities culminating on the Grand Parade and Variety Show on the 25th.

The fiesta kicked off with first ever GurOlympics, a sports competition for teachers and students for public and private schools in Gerona, on November 15.

Other activities were: Job Fair, Day Care Parade/Mr. & Mrs. Day Care, Search For Miss Gay Universe '08, Parokya Ni Edgar Free Concert, Street Dancing Competition, DepED Folkdance Competition, SK Night/Hataw sa Sayaw Contest, Gerona Open Chess Tournament, Drum &
Lyre Exhibition, Barangay Night and Ballroom Dancing, Grand Parade, and Variety Show.
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The 2008 fiesta was the first time in years without the search for Miss Gerona Beauty Contest.

Go said that they had second thoughts pushing through without the beauty contest because it has been a regular fiesta treat to Geronians.

"I talked with Mr. Dante Mata, the committee chairperson, and weighed possible expense against available resources. That's when we decided to have the Variety show instead of the beauty contest," he said.

"And when I saw the number of people who went on to attend the variety show, I did not only feel vindicated, I was overwhelmed."

Mayor Go also thanked those who supported the fiesta activities as well as the sponsors.