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Thursday, September 29, 2005
Iligan fest highlights
By Lino dela Cruz
Iligan correspondent
ILIGAN CITY -- One of the highlights of this year's Iligan City fiesta celebration is a form of "panaad" or promise which is the "Diyandi", in fact, henceforth, it is the theme for every fiesta celebration in honor of this city's patron St. Michael the Archangel on September 29.
According to an excerpt of a brochure written by Patrick Fernandez in 1985, like the play "comedia", "Diyandi" is another form of "panaad". It is the all-female folk dance of the Iligaynon.
Traditionally preceding the comedia performance, the "Diyandi" portrays the courtship between the Maranao males and Higa-unon females represented by the symbolic exchange of handkerchiefs between the two groups.
The "Comedia" is a cultural play depicting the conflict between good and evil where St. Michael the Archangel comes out victorious and triumphant over the devil.
The 'Diyandi'
Starting with the offering of gifts--an egg, a chick and ginger, the oration of praises in Maranao and Higa-unon dialects, the dancers, in parallel formation exchange positions from one line to the other.
With the accompaniment of the agong, the dance climaxes in the holding of hands signifying the unity of the cultural community's worship of the "Senor."
The dance ends with the folk song "Ang Buotan nga Iliganon" (The Good Iliganon), which has become an anthem of sorts for this city."
One angel, three cultures
History has shown that there exists a Higa-unon, Maranao and Iliganon culture co-existing harmoniously and paying homage to the patron saint, Sr. San Miguel the Archangel.
As the theme "Diyandi" declares... "One Angel, three cultures, hundreds of thousands of people.
"Diyandi Festival" encompasses all the different cultural shows which are being staged in the month-long celebration dubbed as "29 days in September".
"Kasadya Street Dancing" which is a part of the "Diyandi" Festival was held September 27, apart from the locals, contingents coming from neighboring cities and provinces participated in this annual street dancing contest.
Contingents in their colorful costumes and its respective local cultural dance themes came from Kauswagan, Bacolod and Kapatagan towns in Lanao del Norte; from Dipolog City-Zamboanga del Norte, Ozamis City and Pagadian City.
The "Kasadya street dancing" which started at about 9:00 a.m. lasted for more than three hours.
The activity was witnessed by huge crowds that virtually caused the clogging of vehicular traffic for at least three hours, as the dance groups passed the main streets of this city.
Dance judges were posted at strategic places along the route where the dance groups passed that finally converged at the Anahaw amphitheater at the City Hall grounds in Buhanginan hills, this city, where the final judging was made in the presence of top city officials headed by Iligan City mayor Lawrence Cruz, the city councilors and other guests and high ranking officials, including former Miss Universe Gloria Diaz who was one of the judges in last Tuesday night's Miss Iligan Beauthy Pageant held at the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT).
The Kasadya Street Dance Winners
The multi-awarded Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte contingent led by town mayor Moamar "Jackmar" Maruhom bagged the Champion's award with a cash prize of P150,000.00 and a trophy.
Followed by first runner up Tomas Cabili Annex Elementary School, Iligan City with a P75,000.00 cash prize and a trophy.
Second runner up is Pagadian City with a cash prize of P50,000.00 and a trophy.
In the elementary level, North Central Elementary School (Iligan City) won the Champion's award with a cash prize of P25,000.00 and two trophy's; first-runner up Kiwalan Elementary School (Iligan City) with a cash prize of P15,000.00 and a trophy; and second runner up Napocor (National Power Corp.) Elementary School (Iligan City) with a cash prize of P10,000.00 and a trophy.
Special awards were handed to the following Best in Instrument--Tomas Cabili Elementary School, Iligan City, Best in Choreography Pagadian City, Best in Costume Zamboang del Norte (Dipolog City); Best in Chants tomas Cabili Elementary School, Best in "Escrima" Tomas Cabili Elementary School and Best in St. Michael Attire Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte.
* * * * *
Iligan city was honored with a visit from one of its outstanding citizen, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last Monday.
President Arroyo considers herself an Iliganon because during her childhood, she spent summer vacations at the house of her grandfather Engineer Juan Macaraeg in Timoga, Barangay Buruun, this city.
Following the dedication of a marker at the Macapagal-Macaraeg ancestral house, which is now a heritage house under the National Heritage Institute, President Arroyo met with local city, barangay and purok officials where the said sectors reaffirmed their support to the administration of President Arroyo.
A devout Catholic, President Arroyo, feeling the pressure from the "political noise" and destabilizers, drew comfort from her patron saint, Saint Michael the Archangel who is also the patron saint of the barangay where Malacañang Palace is situated.
"St. Michael, the archangel, defend us in the day of battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil".
"May God rebuke him, we humbly pray and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell, Satan, and all the other evil spirits, who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls." the President said.
As Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz concluded his speech at the meeting with President Arroyo, he declared, "Viva Senor San Miguel!"
(September 29, 2005 issue)
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