VIllar kicks off 16th Ms. Waterlily Festival

Two years after a hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Senator Cynthia A. Villar kicked off the now 16th Ms. Waterlily Pre-pageant and presented the candidates for the search who came from the 20 barangays in Las Pinas City.

"The Waterlily Festival in 2020 and 2021 were temporarily halted due to COVID pandemic, but we were given the chance to resume and revitalize it in 2022 last year. So for 2023, we are here again for a happy celebration of our 16th Ms. Waterlily Pageant," said Villar.

The senator is elated that just like the previous years, all the city's 20 barangays participated in the Ms. Waterlily 2023 Pageant.

In the pre-pageant, the Ms. Waterlily candidates who were doning costumes made from water lily, were introduced for the first time.

She noted that the Waterlily Festival is a great way to show Las Piñeros' capacity for friendship and camaraderie with the other barangays in Las Piñas.

"Looking back, it was in 2005 when we started our Waterlily Festival, our goal was to raise awareness on an environmental challenge we were experiencing - the clogging of two rivers- the Las Piñas, ang Zapote River at Las Piñas River due to overgrowth of waterlilies and other trash thrown in the river and esteros," related Villar.

Together with the Villar SIPAG, the senator said they exerted efforts to remove the waterlilies that clogged the two rivers.

They then used waterlilies dried stalks for making baskets, slippers, mats and other handicrafts-weaved products.

"This was the beginning of our livelihood project- the water hyacinth handicraft weaving enterprise wherein Las Piñas residents learned making handicraft, now a source of livelihood and income.

At present, she said there are no more waterlilies, which impede the flow of water, in these two rivers.

While the Las Piñas waterlily livelihood projects still continues, they get waterlilies from Muntinlupa, Taguig and other parts of Metro Manila.

She said it all started with waterlily. But through the years and with the help of Villar SIPAG, they established different barangay-based livelihood enterprises, model of proper waste management," she further stated.

VIllar, sinimulan ang 16th Ms. Waterlily Festival

Matapos ang dalawang taong pagkakahinto dahil sa Covid-19 pandemic, muling sinimulan ni Senator Cynthia A. Villar ang ngayo'y 16th Ms. Waterlily Pre-pageant at iprinisinta ang mga kandidato na nagmula sa 20 barangay sa Las Piñas City.

"The Waterlily Festival in 2020 and 2021 were temporarily halted due to COVID pandemic, but we were given the chance to resume and revitalize it in 2022 last year. So for 2023, we are here again for a happy celebration of our 16th Ms. Waterlily Pageant," ayon kay Villar.

Ikinagalak ng senador na gaya ng mga nakaraang taon, muling lumahok ang 20 barangay ng siyudad sa Ms. Waterlily 2023 Pageant.

Ipinakilala sa pre-pageant ang Ms. Waterlily candidates na nakasuot ng mga gamit gawa sa water lily.

Iginiit ng senador na isang paraan ang Waterlily Festival para ipakita ang pakikipagkaibigan ng mga Las Piñeros mula sa mga barangay ng siyudad.

"Looking back, it was in 2005 when we started our Waterlily Festival, our goal was to raise awareness on an environmental challenge wewere experiencing - the clogging of two rivers- the Las Piñas, ang Zapote River at Las Piñas River due to overgrowth of waterlilies and other trash thrown in the river and esteros," pahayag ni Villar.

Kasama ang Villar SIPAG, kanilang pinagsikapang tanggalin ang waterlilies na bumabara sa dalawang naturang ilog.

Pagkatapos, ginamit nila ang tuyong tangkay ng waterlilies sa paggawa ng mga basket, tsinelas, banig at iba pang nilalang handicrafts.

"This was the beginning of our livelihood project- the water hyacinth handicraft weaving enterprise wherein Las Piñas residents learned making handicraft, now a source of livelihood and income."

Sa ngayon, wala ng waterlilies na bumabara sa malayang daloy ng tubig sa dalawang ilog na ito.

Dahil patuloy pa rin ang Las Pinas waterlily livelihood projects, kumukuha sila ng waterlilies sa Muntinlupa, Taguig at iba pang bahagi ng Metro Manila.

Aniya, nagsimula lamang ito sa waterlily. Pero sa pagdaan ng mga taon at sa tulong ng

Villar SIPAG, itinayo nila ang iba't-ibang barangay-based livelihood enterprises, na modelo ng tamang waste management," sabi pa niya.