ILIGAN CITY - The city's month-long Diyandi Festival, done in honor of St. Michael the Archangel , was an overwhelming success, according to Iligan City Councilor Sorilie Christine Bacsarpa, chairperson of the Diyandi Festival Executive Management Board 2016.
"The activities hosted by the Diyandi Festival Executive Management Board were well attended by the people. These include the Opening salvo, Parada de San Miguel, Fiesta sa Lechon sa Iligan, Sayaw Saulog, Miss Iligan 2016, Tartanilla, Silent Drill, Caracas and the procession of the miraculous image of St. Michael the Archangel on September 29 which was joined by some 25,000 devotees," Bacsarpa said.
Bacsarpa commended all Iliganons who took part in the various festivities, saying the residents of the city, along with tourists, participated in spite of security threats.
“In spite of security threats, true-blooded Iliganons went out and flocked to the streets and staging areas and enjoyed the festivities and we firmly believed that Senior San Miguel, the city's patron saint, protected and shielded Iligan City,” Bacsarpa said.
“In behalf of the Iligan City Government, Bacsarpa commended the joint efforts of the Philippine National Police(PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) particularly the 4th Mechanized Infantry "Kalasag" Battalion of 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army,” she said.
Police Senior Superintendent Leony Roy Ga, Iligan City Police Director, said Police Chief Superintendent Noel Constantino PNP Region 10 Director lauded the joint security measures with the police and military in the month-long Diyadi celebration.
Constantino had directed the PNP Iligan City to sustain the security tightening measure because of the ongoing threats.
The Diyandi Festival culminated with the procession of the Berhin sa La Naval on October 2 and the Pag Pasaka sa Imahen ni Senior San Miguel today, October 3, Bacsarpa said.
Bacsarpa said she will propose an ordinance to make September 27 a holiday for Iligan City so that the younger generations will have a deeper understanding of Iligan's socio-cultural traditions being portrayed by the participating contingents in the Sayaw Saulog.