Tacloban City (30 July) -- August 1 marks the start of a 15-day festivities highlighting Tanauan, Leyte Day and the Feast of the Our Lady of Assumption, the town patroness.

The Pasaka festivities include nightly cultural shows, sports activities, agri trade fairs, competitions, childrens festival, gift giving, tree planting, medical and dental missions and investment forum. All these are set through the collective efforts of all the various sectors from the local government unit, the academe, the non government organizations, the elderly, the youth and the children. These are focused on thanksgiving for the blessings received all through the years and showcase the solidarity of the people of Tanauan.

Mayor Roque A. Tiu bared that this year's festivities is made more meaningful with the coming home of about 50 Tanauananons from the States headed by Engr. Pat and Madelyn Lauzon, to celebrate with their relatives and friends and who will be bringing with them some gifts for the less fortunate constituents, medical and dental missions. Special activities are scheduled for them like a welcome reception, gift giving, tree planting, meeting with the LGU, meeting with the scholars and medical and dental mission aside from their joining in the religious activities.

The nightly activities which starts on August 1 are the EVSU Night, the Knights of Columbus 1st Tanauan Pop Music Festival, The Senior Citizens Night with the Fedfelli Band, the TNHS Nite, the TSCHI Prime Bida, the Assumption Academy A Vaudeville Night from La Assumpta, DepEd Night featuring Odon Sabarre and His Dance Students, Lamrag's Pasikatan sa Kantahan, Liga ng mga Barangay Night, Little Miss Tanauan, Mr. Tanauan 2005, Pasaka Queen 2005, LGU Stars Night and the Pepsi Night and Hermana's Night.

Aside from the grand Pasaka Festival on August 14, there will be an Acrobatic Show at the Tanauan Gyn on August 12, a children's festival and school band competition on August 13 and a Friendship Basketball Game featuring the TLAS USA Basketball Team vs. the Tanauan Basketball Team.

Worth watching is the Pasaka Skimboarding Open from August 12 -14 and the Skimboard Painting Contest. Tanauan prides itself as being the pioneer in skimboarding and the venue of the first National Skimboard Competition early this year.

Rumba Bugsay will be held also on August 14. Others sports activities are the inter-town basketball tournament, kopen volleyball tournament, Table tennis, badminton, battle of Chess Champions, Cycling (BMX and MB) Contest and boxing. (PIA-8)