Thursday, August 09, 2007 Low budget hounds N. Cotabato's Hinugyaw
THIS year's Hinugyaw Festival in time for the 93rd Founding Anniversary of the Province of North Cotabato will have a "limited budget" but will nevertheless be as grandiose as the past festivals.
This was the assurance made by Governor Jesus Sacdalan as the province is now busy preparing for the three-day festival that will run from August 30 to September 1.
This year's theme is "Pagkakaisa at Kapayapaan: Susi ng Patuloy na Kaunlaran" (Unity and Peace: Key to Continued Progress).
According to the governor, this year's Hinugyaw will be celebrated with a budget of P2 million due largely to limited resources. For this, the organizers decided to forego with the beauty pageant this year.
“We will have to forego with the Search for Mutya ng Cotabato this year because of the limited budget. I believe that the simple yet meaningful activities we have lined-up for the foundation anniversary will bring the same warmth in welcoming another page of our history as a province despite the absence of the Mutya pageant”, the governor said.
Focus will be given this year to the Agro-Livestock Fair that will officially open the three-day celebration. Sacdalan has ordered the granting of additional incentives to all participating local government units aside from the P20,000 cash award that will go to this year's Best Booth.
Other activities lined up during the 3-day celebration are various sports activities including an inter-LGU sports competition and a lawn tennis tournament. There will also be a distribution of land titles under Operation Pamamahagi ng Titulo, a skills competition, and daily live band performances.
The Hinugyaw sa Karsada Street dancing competition cum mardi gras parade which serves as the highlight of the annual foundation day will be held as usual on September 1 at the provincial capitol grounds.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap will be the guest of honor during the anniversary program. (BOT/With press release)
