DASMARIÑAS CITY, Cavite – Considered the “progressive” and most populous city in the Cavite province, will celebrate its founding anniversary on November 26, 2022, with the staging of the “Paru-Paro” Festival with the theme, “Balik Dasmaganda, Dasmasigla at Dasmasaya.”

Malacañang has declared November 26 a special non-working holiday in this city. The declaration was contained in Proclamation 77, signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on October 14, 2022.

Cavite 4th District Congressman Elpidio “Pidi” F. Barzaga, Dasmariñas City Mayor Jenny Barzaga, Vice Mayor Rex Mangubat, Cavite Councilors League Federation President Kiko Barzaga and other local officials will lead the founding day celebration that goes with the staging of the Paru-Paro Festival.

Aside from the founding anniversary and cityhood celebration, the Paru-Paro Festival also goes with the city celebrations of the feast day of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 and the holiday season.

For this city, the colorful “paru-paro” (butterfly) is a universal symbol of change, transformation and celebration.

Highlights of this year’s celebration are the float parade and street dance competition and the “Mr. and Ms. Paru-Paro Festival,” and the one-day trade fair located at Dasmariñas Arena.

The festival is an annual event that features the “metamorphosis” of Dasmariñas from being a barrio to becoming one of the fastest developing cities in the country, with around 780,000 population as of the year 2022.

The butterfly metamorphosis resembles Dasmariñas, which took undertakings through the years to become a progressive city.

The first “Paru-Paro” Festival was launched on November 26, 2011, coinciding with Dasmariñas’ second city-hood anniversary.

The city is the province’s most populous area with an estimated 1 million people (in the daytime) and is deemed the most progressive in terms of economy with the turf’s industries, businesses, health, and educational institutions, subdivisions, tourist spots and infrastructures.

Dasmariñas was a barrio of Imus town until it was declared a town on May 12,1864. After 145 years of being a municipality, it was declared a city on November 26, 2009.

“Paru-Paro” is the official festival insignia of Dasmariñas as declared in Resolution No. 069-s-2011 and Special Ordinance 02-s-2011 approved by the Council and Mayor Jennifer Barzaga.

The said festivity was held in virtual mode for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will be returning while observing minimum health protocols.