TACLOBAN CITY – The Tacloban City Tourism and Operations Office will hold the Grand Santacruzan, a traditional religious pageant, on May 30, 2022, for the first time since the pandemic.
The event's activities include contingent barangays with their own Reyna Elenas and floats that will join the procession, commemorating Queen Helena's search for the True Cross during the reign of his son Constantine the Great, the first Christian Emperor of Rome.
The barangays that will participate in the Grand Santacruzan 2022 in Tacloban City are 43-B-Quarry, 99-Diit, 85-San Jose, 65-Paseo de Legaspi, and 39-Calvary Hill.
The awarding or program will occur in Rizal Plaza following the procession, with the grand winner receiving P40K, the first runner-up receiving P30K, the second runner-up receiving P20K, and the third runner receiving P15K, and special prizes totaling P10K.
The grand prize for the Reyna Elena contest is P8K, the first runner-up is P6K, the second runner-up is P4K, and consolation prizes are P1,000.00.
In addition to the Grand Prize for Best Barangay, there are cash awards for Best Reyna Elena and other special recognitions. The event's theme, "Five Centuries of Philippine Christianity." was inspired by a five-century long history of Philippine Christianity.
Each participating barangay was given money to assist with the cost of building floats and other festival decorations.
The Grand Santa Cruzan is the culmination of the Flores de Mayo, a Catholic flower festival honoring Mary, Jesus Christ's mother. Every day throughout the month of May, flowers are offered to the Virgin Mary at the altar in the Church as a Marian devotion. —Tacloban News Update