Father’s Day Celebration In Batan

by BIENVENIDO P. CORTES

Batan, Aklan -　The illustrious fathers of this town will hold it’s 76th Father’s Day celebration with pompous and gaiety on Dec. 31, 2010. Punong Barangay David R. Sucgang will be proclaimed as Father of the Year 2010.

This occasion is one of the most important social activities in this historic town of Batan since l930 when it was first observed by prominent　fathers in the poblacion with Mr. Roman Patricio as the first Father of the Year 1930. The celebration was only interrupted for four years during the Japanese occupation of the country from 1941 to 1944.　

Among those activities are typical to the children of　the fathers at 5:00 o’clock in the morning, and Son of the Year celebration as a related activity at 8:00 o’clock. Thanksgiving Mass is at 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon. Fellowship Dinner will follow at 6:00. That includes slide show of Father’s Day in Batan (a retrospection and a vision), Cultlural Presentations of selected children of Batangnons, Father’s Day Diamond Jubilee celebration which includes doxology, singing of the National Anthem, welcome message of the father of the Year 20l0, Recognition and giving of awards to distinguished fathers.

Rigodon de Honor will be danced by past fathers of the year and other distinguished fathers. Public dancing by all guests and visitors will be done until the wee hours of the evening. The election and proclamation of the incoming Father of the Year 20l1 will also be done. This includes the presentation of the Traditional Cane, Hat and a lechon’s head to the in-coming Father of the Year.

After his election, the incoming Father of the Year 2011 will then give his acceptance speech and his plans for the next year’s 77th Father’s Day celebration.

Many Batangnons from afar particularly from the United States, Canada, Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asian countries and from other parts of the Philippines are expected to come home, not only for the Christmas season, but to join the observance of the Father’s Day celebration in their beloved town of Batan. /MP