Hane Festival on Tanay's 416th founding anniversary celebration

TANAY is one of the oldest municipalities of Rizal province because Spanish colonizers initially founded it as a town in 1606, and then declared it as a municipality 288 years later. At present, Tanay is a first-class municipality comprising 10 urban and 10 rural barangay (villages), and with a population of 139, 420 of which 10 percent are Indigenous people, particularly the Dumagat and Remontado (mixed blood Dumagat). Because of its proximity to the National Capital Region or Metro Manila (only 57 kilometers east of Manila), its lush mountains, winding roads, waterfalls, camping grounds, several hotels, cozy restaurants and cafes that are overlooking Laguna de Bay, and ridges and windmills in neighboring Pililla town (also in Rizal), Tanay has become a favorite destination of many tourists, particularly bikers and hikers.

After a two-year hiatus because of Covid-19, Tanay is once again celebrating its Hane Festival on the 416th year of its founding, with an optimistic theme: "Shine and Smile: Bangon Rise/Get Up) and Sulong (Move Forward) Tanay." The term "hane" is peculiar to the Tanayan Tagalog language because it is an expression asking for an agreement toward the end of a statement. Today is the culmination of the 11-day celebration covering numerous exciting activities that were participated in by various government agencies including the military and nongovernment and community-based organizations. These activities included sports events, barangay road beautification, cookfests, art exhibit, Filipiniana gown exhibit, job fair, beauty pageant, talent show, people's parade, military static display, car and motor show, and agriculture trade fair and exhibit. These various events were well orchestrated by a dynamic local government unit (LGU) that is led by the indefatigable and dedicated reelected Tanay Mayor Rafael Tanjuatco.