Sunday, August 31, 2008 Higaonon culture to take spotlight By Annabelle L. Ricalde
RECOGNIZING its dominant influence in the local way of life, the Higaonon culture will be taking a more prominent role in the annual Kagay-an Festival in Cagayan de Oro, organizers said.
Rodolfo Meñes, president of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (Oro Chamber), hailed the recent fiesta as a “success” in molding the Higaonon identity to the local consciousness, thereby defining Cagayan de Oro’s niche in the country’s cultural tourism market.
With the Kagay-an Festival metamorphosing into a distinct Kagay-anon cultural event, Meñes said the new identity will pole-vault Cagayan de Oro’s image as a tourism, business and recreation hub in Mindanao.
Ruben Vegafria, chairman of the festival organizer Promote CDO Foundation, agreed. For next year, he said a more Higaonon-themed festival will be expected, with all major fiesta activities focusing on the showcasing the local heritage.
Earlier, the National Commission of Culture and the Arts (NCCA) had suggested that Cagayan de Oro draw inspiration from its rich ethnic heritage for its fiesta theme, Vegafria said.
As one of the improvements that they are going to implement next year, he said Promote CDO will conduct a two-day seminar on Higaonon choreography, so that dances and other stage performances will take on a more ethnic turn.
This will also serve as a preparation for the Higaonon Dance Festival, he added.
Meanwhile, Meñes commended the police, military and traffic enforcers for maintaining peace and orderliness during the three-day festival.
He said the business sector had greatly benefited from the tranquil environment throughout the fiesta.
Vegafria said: “People witnessed how peaceful and festive the fiesta was. Despite the fact that there were threats, still we were able to celebrate it in a grandiose form.”
