The week-long celebration of the 263rd Bataan Foundation day came to a close on Saturday with a long parade of floats and street dancing from the Four-Lane Road to the capitol ground here.

Each of the 11 towns and one city presented colorful historical floats that marked the origin of their names based on anecdotes.

The name of Abucay town, for example, came from “Abo Kinaykay” or digging the ashes, “Samel,” (nipa leaves as covering for banca passengers) for Samal; ”Di-nalupigan” (strong fighting spirit) for Dinalupihan.

Hermosa town derived its name from beautiful women bathing in the brook that Spanish soldiers saw, Bagac from “lumbak” and “tagak”, Mariveles for many “dilis” fish and so on with other towns.

Street dancing, on the other hand, highlighted the festival celebrated in each municipality like Pawikan Festival in Morong, Bakawan Festival in Orion, Sugpo and Alimango Festival in Orani, Banga Festival in Balanga City.

The town of Bagac showcased the Burador (fish) festival, Abucay the Palis Lasa Festival and in Pilar, the Feast Day of Nuestra Señora del Pilar.

This celebration was the second after House Bill 3718 declaring January 11 of every year as Bataan Foundation Day was enacted into Republic Act 11138 on Nov. 8, 2018. January 11 was declared as a special non-working holiday in the province.

Bataan House Reps. Geraldine Roman of the first district and Jose Enrique Garcia III of the second district, principally sponsored the House Bill.

Research by the provincial historical committee showed that Bataan which was then under Pampanga and some portions in Cavite was established as a separate province on Jan. 11, 1757. (PNA)