KINANG, the opening ceremony of the 75^th Kalilangan Festival was healed at the oval plaza on Feb. 21, 2014.  The program featured fun, colorful and theatrical performances accompanied by sets of video presentations. With emphasis on the moments from the past that made Gensan what it is today, what we have now, and glances of the future, as aspirations and dreams were shared by a number of Gensans youth. Glimpses from Gensans past were highlighted from photos and video testimonies of the early settlers,  pioneers and descendants of General Paulino Santos. It was an evening of sparkle, presented by the city’s best and brightest performers. A landscape of awesomeness showcasing a vivid cultural celebration of colors and diversity, perfectly interpreted in song and dance numbers reflecting the city’s rich history and evolution.

In his opening speech Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera thanked every generation of GenSans early settlers and pioneers on how their contributions have helped put GenSan in the local and global community. He also encourage the citizens of Gensan to be the eyes and ears of the government, told the Local Government Unit officials and employees to roll up their sleeves and work on the things that need to be fixed, and also to the peace and order units of the city to continue providing peace and present more peace and order solutions for the Generals, lastly  the business sector, to continue in building a strong and stable economic structure of progress in GenSan. After his speech, 75 torches were lit, representing the years and decades of the city’s evolution, and a grand fireworks display dropped the crowd’s jaws to the ground.

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Photos by: Jan Paul " Jaypee" Torrijos