Senator Cynthia A. Villar said she is grateful that the 15th Waterlily Festival was held this year after it was temporarily stopped for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The event held at the Villar SIPAG grounds, was highlighted with the selection of 15th Ms. Las Piñas Water Lily 2022 and Sayaw Kabataan (SK) Para sa Kalikasan winners.
Therese Glorianne Almirez of Barangay Pilar clinched the 15th Ms. Las Piñas Water Lily 2022 title. The other winners are Elka Norein Delos Reyes of Pamplona Uno, 1st runner up and Diana Trasha Claridad of Brgy. Almanza Uno, 2nd runner up. Justine Kate Tingson of Bgy.Talon Uno won the Ms. Photogenic while Jacquelyn De Ocampo of Brgy. Ilaya was Ms. Congeniality.
Barangay Elias Aldana was the Grand Champion in the ‘ala TikTok’ dance competition which was participated by dance groups coming from the city’s 20 barangays. Barangay Manuyo Uno was 1st runner-up and Barangay Talon 5 is the 2nd runner-up.
Villar, the chairperson of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources, said she started the festival in 2005 to raise awareness on the clogging of the Las Piñas-Zapote River due to waterlilies and other wastes.
Through the Villar SIPAG, volunteers also collected all the waterlilies and used them in their livelihood programs. Residents have ventured into waterlily-making businesses to further boost the flowers’ usefulness.
“We have come a long way with the idea of transforming these flowers into unique arts and crafts. From swamping our waterways and causing floodings in our city, these lovely blooms have become stable sources of livelihood not only for Las Piñas residents but also for many of
our kababayans, especially those who live near the rivers,” Villar said.
Sen. Mark A. Villar and Deputy Speaker Camille Villar together with and barangay officials also joined the celebrations.
