The Calacatchara Festival started in 2005 under the leadership of Mayor Sofronio “Nas” C. Ona, Jr. It has become an annual celebration in the City of Calaca, now being celebrated every May.

The Festival promotes a sense of pride within the locals because Calacatchara Festival aims to popularize first and foremost the City’s very own delicacy—atchara. This side dish/appetizer is a product that helps in the livelihood of the local atchara-makers and is also a cultural signifier of the City of Calaca and the Calacazens.

Each year, well-loved and newly-launched innovative, dynamic, and jubilant events are featured, hence the stretch of the Festival is more than a week. Different offices of the city government, led by the Office of the City Tourism Officer, and sectors in the city come up with a line-up of activities that will truly engage and entertain the Calacazens, visitors, and tourists. The celebration, as a whole, is also a thanksgiving to St. Raphael the Archangel, the patron saint of Calaca, for the abundant harvest of its farmers and fisherfolk.

This year’s central theme for Calaca City’s hallmark festivity, the CalacAtchara Festival, is Linangin. Mahalin. Tangkilikin ang sariling atin in accordance with May’s character trait, Patriotism o Pag-ibig sa tinubuang bayan.

The nine-day celebration of the CalacAtchara Festival opened on May 2, 2024. Employees of the City Government of Calaca, city officials, barangay officials, and other guests wore an assortment of vibrant regional costumes to elevate the spirit of patriotism during the parade and the opening program. Special guests and performers, presentations, and the Saganang Calacazen: ang Pista ng Ani sa Lungsod ng Calaca contributed to a remarkable launch of the festival.

On May 3, Tatag ng Calacazen: Barangay Rescue, Response, and Radio Olympics 2024 involved all the forty barangays in Calaca. The Barangay Rescue and Response Olympics, spearheaded by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the barangay officials, not only highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness and response but also instilled a sense of pride and unity among their members advancing the compassion for their respective barangays and for the city as a whole. 

In the evening of May 3, the Department of Education (DepEd) Calaca District Sub-Office offered a show that featured the musical and theatrical prowess of select DepEd Calaca students and teachers. The DepEd Night Presents ang Mahiwagang Aklat: Sulyap sa Iba’t-Ibang Mukha ng Buhay. The play presented to a highly energized crowd the different facets of success stories with respect to applying the character city traits on a daily basis.

On the third day of the festival, the Office of the City Agriculturist gathered Calacazen fisherfolks for the Tikas ng Calacazen: Paligsahan sa Pagsasagwan 2024. This activity celebrated the traditional skills and practices of these local fisherfolks and highlighted their importance in the community’s cultural and economic fabric. Through this, their expertise in navigating waters, a skill honed through their daily livelihood activities, was accented. This involvement can foster a deeper sense of community and respect for local practices and traditions.

The Revved Up: B2B Calaca City Car & Motor Show was mounted on the evening of May 4, and the participating car owners and groups paid tribute to the love of anything related to automobile aestheticism and utility. The customized cars and motorcycles drew large number of visitors and car enthusiasts from all over the province.

A strong and long-standing tradition and sports in the Philippines is cockfighting. On May 5, said sports was joined by participants and by undertaking this activity, the 1st 4-Cock Grand Derby, became a successful event— able to strengthen camaraderie and sportsmanship.

The Nasa Tiyaga Cooperative and Livelihood Night and Kundiman Singing Contest, held on the evening of May 5, brought together local singers from different barangay clusters to offer kundiman songs to the crowd. It was an opportunity, especially for the Calacazen youth, to witness these poetic, and lovely traditional Filipino love songs. This activity was also a way to enrich the presence of the livelihood associations in the economic and social aspects of the community.

Local pet lovers and owners in the City of Calaca had a genuinely wonderful time as their beloved fur babies became the stars of the Dazzling Dogs: A Premier Dog Show Extravaganza. It was not only about these pets taking the centerstage, the opportunity for pet owners to be reminded of responsible caring for pets. Said program took place on May 6.

Singers from different barangays bested one another during the Birit Barangay: Barangay Night Singing Contest. It was indeed a dynamic and energizing night of May 6 to be entertained by such confident and passionate singers. This was a show of how the participants were supported by their respective barangays.

On May 7, the Office of the City Health Officer’s Pagkamakabayan Lalo’t Higit sa Oras ng Pangangailangangathered its Lunas Kalusugan Volunteer Workers to be the highlight of said program. Their storytelling and ingenuity gave the audience such a remarkable time by promoting positive health behaviors, responsibilities, and love for the homeland.

The night of Pantawid Pamilya Variety Show and Awarding of the Search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya was yet another significant part of the Festival. On May 6, said show promoted and recognized the Pantawid beneficiaries as a bridge or link between the City Government, the Provincial Office, and the Regional Office. Being keen on the social welfare of the community members through the aforementioned initiative proved that patriotism indeed elevates the quality of life of the citizens.

Holding job fairs is important employment facilitation strategy as it aims to meet the needs of both the job seekers and the employers. The May 8 morning program, Galing ng Calacazen: Job Fair 2024, provided the venue for qualified locals to reach their potentials by applying for jobs. This was also an economical measure for the applicants as the cost of transport was minimized since a pool of different companies was gathered in one place. In Calaca City, the apt employees remain as the top asset in any feat.

The Tanghal at Parangal: Calaca City Grand Ball 2024 aimed to pay tribute to organizations and stakeholders that had contributed to the economic advancement of the city and on the evening of May 8, said entities graced the red carpet of the Grand Ball to show solidarity with the City Government. The event also recognized individuals who represented the character traits in their work and community involvement. The evening was a night of merriment, dancing, singing, and most importantly, of sharing the same goals of improving the lives of Calacazens.

Through the Office of the City Veterinarian, the Calacazen Maagap: Pagkakapon Hakbang Upang Rabies ay Maiwasan took place on May 9. The activity aimed to address the issue of pet overpopulation and to promote responsible pet ownership for the improvement of the animal welfare within the community.

One of the major highlights of the Festival was the Bb. Lungsod ng Calaca 2024. Held on May 9, in a world-class stage, beautiful, graceful, and confident young ladies competed for the title while also promoting integrity, respect, and patriotism, to name some of the character traits fostered in Calaca. Supporters of each contestant stayed lively until the new queens were crowned. The night became a testament that being a role model is a combination of leadership, strength, and empathy and the contestants of the pageant proved that they were every inch a role model to the youth.

The ultimate program and a definite highlight of the CalacAtchara Festival was the Mayor’s Night which, like the other festival events, attracted a great number of spectators. Every year, said event never fails to provide the best entertainment to the people of Calaca and to the visitors, as well. It’s Mayor Nas Ona’s way of thanking all those who came together for the success of the CalacAtchara Festival and also of honoring St. Raphael the Archangel and all his intercessions for the Calacazens.

Indeed, the CalacAtchara Festival 2024 was for the love of the city, for the people, and for traditions—a gift and a celebration.