THIS year’s Higalaay Festival is all set but the largest culinary competition and trade show in Northern Mindanao, one of the most-awaited events every fiesta, has been cancelled because sponsors of the event backed out.
City Councilor Jay Roa Pascual, co-chairman of the City Fiesta Executive Committee, declined to name the sponsors but said another factor is the Commission on Higher Education and Department of Education's orders banning field trips.
Participants of the Kumbira show are mostly students.
On July 1, a post in the Kumbira Facebook page said Kumbia 2017 was canceled due to unforeseen events but it was only Tuesday, July 11, when the cancellation was confirmed, Pascual said.
All other events are intact, Pascual clarified, as it is “business as usual” in the city.
The month-long celebration of the feast of St. Augustine will kick off with Higalaay Garden Show and Agri Fair, Mindanao Fashion Summit, Cowboy Festival, Kahimunan Regional Trade Fair, Kagay-an Festival Marathon, Cagayan de Oro Carnival Street Dance Competition, Higalaay Choral Competition, Miss Cagayan de Oro 2017, Street Parade and Floats, Centrio Mall Bisperas Fireworks, Religious and Fluvial processions, Kagay-an Pyro Musical Festival, and the Festival sales in malls.
According to its Facebook page, the very first Kumbira was held at the Grand Ballroom of Pryce Plaza Hotel on August 23, 1996.
Kumbira, a Cebuano term for “feast” or a “food festival,” showcases the talents of the chefs from the different restaurants in the city.
“Patterned after the annual Chefs on Parade in Manila, these culinary festivals have equaled world class standards and helped boost the morale of the food and beverage community within the hotel and restaurant industry,” it says.
The Cagayan de Oro City declared the period of August 23 to 31 as "Cultural and Culinary Week" under Proclamation 01-96 signed by the recently deceased Mayor Pablo Magtajas on June 4, 1996.
Kumbira is initiated by the Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurants Association.
The city's fiesta is on August 28.