PAGCOR Vice President Remedios Matin L. Petilla, also the chairperson of Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals 2008 led in opening activities highlighted with a motorcade around the main streets of this city, ceremonial cutting of the ribbon, press conference, fireworks display, and a concert.

Also present during the opening were Tourism officer Trinidad Dacuycuy, Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Director Doroteo Palconit, Toto Cinco, Juliet Pretencio, and Ramon Gorgonio among others.

A feature of the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals 2008 is a nightly concert at the Pintados-Kasayaan Park (RTR Plaza) to be performed by different groups-which was started at the opening night by the Leyte IDOL Circle of Winners.

While merry-making activities are conducted daily at the RTR Plaza, the image of Sr. Sto. Nino de Leyte goes on a pilgrimage around the towns of Leyte province traveling to one town each day until it is home to Tacloban on June 18.

The celebration activities will climax on June 27 with the PintadosKasadyaan street dancing parade around its usual route on Taclobans main thoroughfares that commences and ends at the Leyte Sports Complex for the festival dancing competition.

This will be participated by 25 festival contingents from the towns of Leyte province, and two from outside, which are the Magellan Festival of Guiuan, Eastern Samar and the Lumad Basakanon Festival from Cebu.

For this year, the Province of Leyte through Gov. Carlos Jericho L. Petilla, has upped the prizes for the Pintados-Kasadyaan festival competitions from the previous years with the 1st prize at P500,000, 2nd prize P300,000, 3rd prize, P250,000, 4th prize; P200,000, 5th prize P100,000, and 6th prize P50,000.