Virtual events, competitions, and limited live activities will mark the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival 2020 celebrations as Zamboanga City abides with the landscape of the new normal.
This, in keeping with the minimum health standards, as the local government prepares for a #SafeHermosa2020, and a meaningful reflection of Fiesta Pilar amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hermosa Festival 2020 will officially open with the virtual 2020 Opening Salvo on October 1, 7 PM, to be held via the official channels of the Festival and the local government. Replays of 2019 Hermosa events will be broadcast over the Festival Week, from October 1 to October 7.
Meanwhile, competitions have been trimmed down to only those that can be held on online platforms. These include: Batalla 2020: Hermosa Mega Crew HipHop Competition, Original Chavacano Video Music Festival 2020, Festival de las Bellas 2020, Hermosa Photography Competition and Hermosa TikTok Challenge.
While majority of events will be virtual, there will be limited live events that will be held from October 1-15. These are the: Cosechas de Zamboanga 2020 from October 1-15, the Novena Mass at Fort Pilar from October 3-11, and the Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar and Pontifical Mass on October 12.
A live event, the Las Ofrenda de Flores con el La Virgen del Pilar, will also be held to bring Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar to different barangays on October 11, a whole day activity that will begin at 6 AM and will follow a route from Sangali to Ayala to Talon-Talon and to City Hall.
All live events will strictly adhere to the minimum health standards.
Zamboanga Hermosa, also known locally as Fiesta Pilar, is one of Zamboanga City’s most important festivals. It honors the city’s patron saint, the Nuestra Señora la Virgen del Pilar whose image is enshrined in the equally historic and venerated Fort Pilar. The feast day proper is on October 12 and is a special holiday in Zamboanga City. (Jasmine Mohammadsali)
Check out the calendar of activities here:
Here are this year's competitions for Zamboanga Hermosa Festival:
We're inviting everyone in the annual Cosechas de Zamboanga, an agri fair showcasing the fresh produce of our farmers, including fruits, vegetables, processed food, and decorative plants. It opens on October 1 and runs until Ocotber 20 at Plaza Pershing.
Official Logo of Zamboanga Hermosa Festival 2020:
The City Government of Zamboanga presents Pascua na Zamboanga 2015. Every year, the city celebrates the yultide season with a lineup of fun-filled activities. The highlight of the Christmas Festival is the switching on of the City Hall as it transforms into a grand display of lights. This year the city is transformed into candyland, and the main attraction includes the City Hall as a gingerbread house, Plaza Pershing as a lollipop forest and Paseo del Mar with the giant ice cream cone Christmas Tree. All landmarks will be ceremonially switched on in December 1st, 5PM.