Now that I live in Cavite, I can honestly say that I’ve heard about the Paruparo Festival of Dasmariñas. When I was still in the corporate world, I remember traveling by bus from work and seeing a tarpaulin with photos of butterflies highlighting the local government’s initiative to build more gardens and greeneries. That was many years ago. I thought maybe that’s the reason why butterflies are quite popular in the city. Thus, the Paruparo Festival.
As a resident of Gen. Trias, I hadn’t received any more updates or information about the Paruparo Festival until recently, when I decided to delve deeper into my interest in festivals. Since launching my Festival YouTube Channel, I’ve become increasingly engrossed in reading and researching festivals around the country and planning visits.
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Lookback on its History and Significance
It was only when I recently participated in the Paruparo Festival 2023 that I understood its true significance. According to the local government of Dasmariñas, the Paruparo Festival symbolizes transformation, reflecting the metamorphosis of a butterfly. This parallels Dasmariñas’ evolution from a simple barrio to a bustling, progressive urban area.
Looking back in history, Dasmariñas was once a barrio of the town of Imus until it was declared a separate and independent town in 1864. After more than a century as a municipality, it was elevated to city status on November 26, 2009. The Paruparo Festival was first launched on November 26, 2011, during the second anniversary of Dasmariñas’ cityhood.
Taas ng energy ng mga bagets. 😉
The colorful “paru-paro” (butterfly) represents universal themes of change, transformation, and celebration. It is a metaphor for the city’s journey and the positive changes it has undergone, mirroring the life cycle of a butterfly that starts as an egg, becomes a larva, and eventually transforms into a butterfly that flies off to a new life.
The Paruparo Festival is more than just a local celebration; it is an emblem of the city’s continuous progress and willingness to embrace change and new opportunities, much like butterflies basking in the sun with their wings wide open. This festival is expected to remain a symbol of Dasmariñas’ unity, determination, and positive transformation for years to come.
Street Dance and Float Parade
A few months ago, I began joining and filming parades, so I thought, why not check out the Paruparo Festival? It’s near where I live in Gentri. After confirming the schedule of the street dance parade and studying the route, I decided to go.
I chose Daño Street, popularly known as the Snake Road, as my base for filming the parade. It’s wide, clean, and has many green areas, providing a good background for dancers and performers. I arrived at the location by noon, with the parade scheduled for 2:00 PM. I came early, anticipating possible road closures in the area that could cause traffic.
I had lunch first at Ranchos Dasma, enjoying Sizzling Pork Chop and Sisig with unlimited rice. I needed the energy to film the entire parade.
The Beauties. 🙂
AISAT College
Colorful!
Just past 2:00 PM, there were early signs that the parade was approaching. I picked the right position and enjoyed the entire street dance parade. It was wonderful to see kids strut their stuff as they moved to the groove of the popular Dasmariñas song. The street dance performance had three divisions: Elementary, Secondary, and Open. The parade was graced not only by participants but also by local officials, bands, and beauty queens.
I truly enjoyed watching the kids dance with big smiles on their faces. If you want to watch the entire parade, I’ve documented everything in this video posted on the Festival channel. Here it is.
Another exciting event was the Lighted Float Parade, which was participated in by different companies in Dasmariñas. The colorful floats illuminated the night, accompanied by various dancers and performers. Some notable floats were from SM, Robinsons, Vista Mall, and others.
Well, I’ve also documented the entire float parade with this video. Here it is. If you like festivals and fiestas, please do subscribe to my Youtube channel, Jon to the World Festivals.
More exciting activities
Aside from these parades, there were other exciting activities throughout the festival, such as Binibining Dasmarinas 2023. Twenty-four lovely ladies from Dasmariñas showcased their beauty and brains to compete for the coveted crown.
Also, a weeklong Bazaar and Food Fair was held at the Dasmariñas Arena to showcase the different delicacies and products that are truly Caviteño.
Photo from City Tourism of Dasmariñas
Paruparo Festival 2023 Winners
Here are the winners of different Patuparo Festival activities.
STREET DANCE COMPETITION
ELEMENTARY CATEGORY
Best in Costume
Sta. Cristina Elementary School
2nd Runner Up
Dasmariñas II Central School
1st Runner Up
Sampaloc Elementary School
Champion
Sta. Cristina Elementary School
SECONDARY CATEGORY
Best in Costume
Dasma East Integrated High School
2nd Runner Up
Dasmariñas North National High School
1st Runner Up
Paliparan 2 Integrated High School
Champion
Dasma East Integrated High School
OPEN CATEGORY
Best in Costume
Kababaihan ng Dasmariñas sa Bagong Milenyo (KDBM)
2nd Runner Up
Dazzling Butterflies
1st Runner Up
Kababaihan ng Dasmariñas sa Bagong Milenyo (KDBM)
Champion
Emilio Aguinaldo College, Cavite Campus
LIGHTED FLOAT PARADE
2nd Runner Up
PrimeWater, Dasmariñas
1st Runner Up
Vista Mall
Champion
First Cavite Industrial Estate (FCIE)
BINIBINING DASMARIÑAS 2023
Winner – Naoimi Henave
1st Runner-up – Mei Lee Wang
2nd Runner-up – Desiree Andrie Sernande
3rd Runner-up – Ma. Angelica Manahan
4th Runner-up – Haylieh Mae Dacumos
