The much awaited event is finally here, as Hudyaka Festival 2005 will be formally opened on May 29 along with ample of surprises and meaningful activities to help welcome the grand celebration. Truly a hudyaka, it will be as active officials of the provincial government headed by Gov. Rolando E. Yebes will dignify and add charm to the opening together with the Department of Tourism Secretary Ace Durano as the guest of honor.

It will be formally opened with a ribbon cutting of the Agri-Tourism and Industrial Fair, which will be headed by Gov. Yebes and assisted by Cong. Cesar Jalosjos, Cong. Roseller Barinaga, Cong. Cely Jalosjos, Vice-Gov. Francis Olvis and Board Members, all city and municipal mayors, Atty. Bernardo Concha, Mr. Vicente Sanchez, Jr., Atty. Ivan Patrick Ang, Atty. Alan Ranillo and Engr. Noel Bazan, at 3 o’clock in the afternoon at the Capitol booth area.

There will be an exhibition of ATI-LGU booths to the guest and general public and the opening of the Provincial Tourism Information Center, shortly after the ribbon cutting. At 6:30 in the evening the crowd will witness and hear the first public singing of the Visayan version of ZANORTE Hymn which will be followed after by a ceremonial raising of LGU banners by the mayors and vice-mayors.

If United States of America has an idol, Zamboanga del Norte surely would not allow to be left behind, as festival coordinators created the ZANORTE idol, a singing competition of the best singers of the provincial government happening at 8 o’clock of that same evening. Further, on the next day starts a kick-off costume parade that signals the marathon of spectacular events for the week-long celebration of the 53rd founding anniversary of the province.

The public can fix their eyes on the different customary clothes of the tribes that dwell in the province since public officials and employees of the provincial government are expected to wear the assigned costumes as they march the streets from the Plaza Magsaysay to the Capitol booth area on Monday. The costume parade is conceptualized to show the Norte Zamboangueños their roots. (Abante Zanorte Gazette, The Official Chronicler of Hudyaka Zanorte 2005, Vol. I No.1)

To highlight the first Hudyaka Festival 2005, twenty-four (24) municipalities will join the Agri-Tourism and Industrial Fair in celebration of the 53rd founding anniversary of the province. Senior Agriculturist Maybelle Bustaliño of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist at the same time coordinator of the event pointed out that “this is the first time the fair has been participated by the most number of municipalities, heeding the invitation set by Gov. Rolando E. Yebes.”

“It can be noted that during the past administration municipalities who participated in the fair did not even reach up to twenty (20) participants,” Bustaliño added. The Agri-Tourism and Industrial Fair will be formally open on May 29 at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, which will be graced by the Department of Tourism Secretary Ace Durano as guest speaker.

The fair will also showcase the different products of each municipality which will also be joined in by the cities of Davao, Pagadian and Dumaguete. Other highlights are baktin catching contest, cooking contest, karambola sa Manok, and Kukabildo sa Taboan, which will tackle and discuss the latest technology in national farming. (Abante Zanorte Gazette, The Official Chronicler of Hudyaka Zanorte 2005, Vol. I No.1)