Press Release
July 28, 2016

11th Water Lily Festival held in Las Pinas

Sen. Cynthia Villar and the Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance) led the celebration today of the 11th Waterlily Festival in Las Pinas. Among the lined up activities were Ms. Las Pinas Water Lily beauty pageant and the street-dancing competition.

Patricia Erika Louise De Leon of Brgy. Pamplona 3 was named Ms. Waterlily, winning a Crown and P25,000. The other winners are Kate Dominque Arcega (1st runner up) of Brgy. Zapote and Monica Belgica (2nd runner up) of Brgy Manuyo 1, who both got a crown and P15,000 and 10,000, respectively.

The People's Choice Award went to Sheila Marie Pielago of Brgy. Talon 5.

The winners in the street-dancing competiton and their prizes were: Golden Acres National High School and TS Cruz National High School and Las Pinas National High School-Almanza 1 Annex- Grand Champion, P50,000; Las Pinas East National High School Talon 4 Annex and LPENH Equitable Village - 1st runner up, P30,000 and Las Pinas National High School and LPNHS-Gatchalia Annex - 2nd runner-up, P20,000. All the winners received trophy.

"Through this (Waterlily) festival, we are able to showcase the city's deep love for the environment as giver of life and livelihood," Villar, who was recently elected as chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said.

When it started in 2005, Villar shared her dream that one day it will be a festival as famous as Cebu's Sinulog and Benguet's Panagbenga Festival. At present, the festival continues to attract visitors and tourists to the city because of its unique attribute as a celebration of nature and culture.

For many years, waterlilies cause flooding in Las Pinas until Villar, when she was Representative of Las Pinas, started the Sagip Ilog Program to rehabilitate the Las Pinas-Zapote River. Truckloads of waterlilies collected were then turned into baskets, trays, mats, hampers, slippers, chests, lampshades, etc.

This year, candidates from 12 barangays of Las Pinas vied for the Ms. Water Lily 2016 title. These are BF Int'l./CAA, Daniel Fajardo, Manuyo Uno, Manuyo Dos, Pamplona Uno, Pamplona Tres, Pulanglupa Uno, Talon Dos, Talon Tres, Talon Kuwatro, Talon Singko, and Zapote. The pre-pageant was held on July 26 at Villar SIPAG, C-5 Extension.

Candidates were required to wear a long gown (strictly mestizo terno) made of 100% waterlily and should maintain the natural color of the plant. They will be judged according to physical beauty, 30%; intelligence and wit, 30%, and uniqueness and creativity of water lily gown, 40%.

The judges in the Ms. Waterlily Festival were Ralph Roy, Solar Entertainment Corp; Jimmy Castillano, LPC Information & Cultural Officer; Edwin Uy, International Award winning designer; Digna Rosales, President - Fashion designers Association of the Phils. And Nancy Leonard, Ms Philippines Earth Air 2013.

This year's participants in the street dancing competition are Las Pinas National High School and LPNHS-Gatchalian Annex, Las Pinas East National High School, LPENHS-Talon 4 Annex & LPENHS Equitable Village, CAA National High School & CAA National High School Annex, Golden Acres National High School, TS Cruz National High School & LPNHS-Almanza 1 Annex, Las Pinas North National High School, Las Pinas Science High School & Rizal Experimental Station & Pilot School of Cottage Industries (RESPSCI).

Each participating group is composed of a maximum of 50 high school students currently enrolled in Las Pinas .Their costumes and props have waterlily as its main component. They performed a maximum of 7-minute dance presentation with music. The groups were given a subsidy of P25,000 each for their costumes, props and equipment.

The street dance contestants were judged according to interpretation and concept, 40%; choreography, 30%; and costume and props, 30%.

Winners may be requested to represent the city in competitions and/or invitations outside the city as cultural ambassadors.

The judges were Lamberto Sa Cruz, Dr. Noemi Bellosillo, and Tess Villanueva.

During the festival, water lily products and weaving demonstration will be shown by the following exhibitors: Water Lily & Crafts Center (Las Piñas City), Sta. Rosa Livelihood Organization Inc. (Sta. Rosa, Laguna), Laguna Water Hyacinth Organization (Los Baños, Laguna), Cardona Livelihood Products (Cardona, Rizal), Kabuhayan sa Water Lily (Cainta, Rizal), and Joneg Foundation (Teresa, Rizal).

Other activities of the day included the grand opening of Mercury Drug, ground-breaking of Mella Hotel, inauguration of C5 Extension Road Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection stations, launching of Las Pinas-Zapote River Cruise, and the inauguration of Villar SIPAG Training Center.

News Latest News Feed