The 14th Punlad Festival in Talisay, Batangas, kicked off with an exciting street dancing competition and Punlad Dance Contest participated by seven clustered barangays.

The festival aims to revitalize tourism in the town after it experienced a slump following the Taal Volcano eruption in 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic that followed. 

The LGU has limited tourist activities due to safety concerns related to Taal Volcano but hopes that the festival will attract more visitors. 

"Marami po ang naka-check in dito sa mga resort and hotel naming dito sa Talisay," Alfred Anciado, Municipal Administrator of Talisay, said.

For 2024, the festival is celebrated from February 1 to February 11. It highlights Talisay as the "Seedling Bowl of the Nation" because of its aquaculture and diverse tree seedling production.

"Ipinakikita ang pinakamain source ng income ng Talisay na nagmumula sa mga seedling sa mga punla, punla means hindi lang sa trees kundi pati sa punla sa tilapia dahil kami ay aqua-culture town din," Anciado said.

A Karakol was held in honor of San Guillermo, the town's patron saint, on February 7, 2024.

The term "Punlad" is derived from the words "punla" (seedling) and "unlad" (progress).

The grand champion for the street dancing competition was Cluster 2 or Barangay Tumaway and Barangay Quiling.