In response to the invitation of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, Angono’s colorful Higantes were featured during the 86th Araw ng Dabaw in Davao City.

Angono is the lakeshore town in Rizal province also known as the Art Capital of the Philippines.

In November last year, Duterte — a former mayor of Davao City — asked Angono Mayor Jeri Mae Calderon to bring their Higantes to Davao City — a thing the local government has responded positively to.

“I am so amused with what I just saw. In fact, I’m asking Mayor Jerimae Calderon if she could lend us their Higantes for our festivities in Davao — with which she readily agreed,” said the Vice President, who was the guest of honor during the town’s Higantes Festival last year.

Angono celebrates the Higantes Festival each year on 22 and 23 November to honor San Clemente, the patron saint of fishermen. The festival features a parade of hundreds of higantes, or paper-mache giants.

Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte, Rep. Paolo Duterte and other local officials warmly welcomed the giant dolls that looked like the mayor, Vice President Duterte and their father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

“What Angono gave us is something that the people of Davao City will forever treasure. Salamat po sa Art Capital of the Philippines. Nagdagdag kulay ang mga Higantes sa aming kapistahan,” Mayor Duterte said.

Calderon said this has helped in promoting their town’s art and culture.

“If the local government units work together, tourism that are based on art and culture will be revitalized,” the Angono mayor said.

Duterte admitted that she was amazed by the art and culture of Angono.

“The fact that the Angono local government unit has been consistent in its effort to preserve culture is in itself noble work of ensuring that we do not forget the historical significance of this festival,” Duterte said.

“Through these colorful and gigantic paper-mache puppets, our forebears expressed their deep-seated yearning for freedom that planted the seeds and the call for change,” the Vice President added.

The Department of Education is now studying to include in the curriculum of the basic education the published books and articles about art and culture with the aim of awakening the hidden talent of the Filipino youth.