The city government of Makati will be joining the community of Barangay Bel-Air and the Bel-Air Village Association, Inc. (BAVA) in holding their annual fiesta celebration, ‘Pasinaya’, on April 23 to 25 at the Bel-Air Village Park City.

Bel-Air Village’s ‘Pasinaya’, which means thanksgiving, has been held annually since 1993 as a way of fostering community spirit and promoting camaraderie among its residents.

This year’s festivity, dubbed ‘Karnabal sa Bel-Air’, is inspired by the diversity, vibrancy and community of the Philippine culture, which enabled both the barangay and village association officials to succeed in bringing residents and friends closer together in the spirit of unity and cooperation.

Mayor Jejomar C. Binay said the 3-day feast will highlight Bel-Air’s achievements towards progress and commendable public service, making the barangay probably the most ideal and pleasant community in Makati.

He said activities like the Grand Pasinaya Celebration have greatly benefited Makati, judging from the Department of Tourism’s inclusion of Makati as one of the country’s premier tourism destinations in its WOW Philippines Program.

“I am sure the colorful and entertaining observation of the Pasinaya in Barangay Bel-Air each year has, to a great extent, helped earn such an accolade for Makati,” Binay added.

According to Bel-Air Chairman Constancia ‘Nene’ Lichauco, they have calendared a variety of events to ensure that visitors and residents will be truly delighted in this year’s celebration. These include a bazaar, food fest, carnival shows and rides, a parade of bands around the village, band exhibitions, children’s art and photo contests, a classic car show and parade, and many others.

“Barangay Bel-Air is more than the usual village, so why not a more than the usual fiesta? Let us celebrate our uniqueness and vitality as a people with a Pasinaya that promises to be more than the usual,” Lichauco said.

The award-winning movie director Floyd Quintos has been tapped to handle the shows and productions to be participated in by residents, barangay and city officials, while a mini-carnival has been put up for the enjoyment of the children of Bel-Air.

Barangay Bel-Air, to which Bel-Air Village belongs, has won the ‘Cleanest and Greenest Village and ‘Best Belen Décor’ titles awarded by the City of Makati for the past seven consecutive years. It was born in 1957 as the third subdivision to be developed by the Ayala Group. Construction was undertaken in four phases on a total area of about 78 hectares, which was subdivided into 960 lots.

Today, the area also comprises Ayala North, Buendia Avenue Extension, the Ayala Triangle, and the entire Salcedo Village.