THE City of Cagayan de Oro has officially launched the Higalaay Festival 2018 in Centrio Ayala Mall on Sunday, July 22, teasing the audiences by showcasing the events coming up for Kagay-anons to take part of.
"Karon (Now), it's really more than the usual because karon pa lang gani, pag launch nato sa atong festival, atong gipakita nga (now in the launching of the festival, we have presented) what's coming up. So para sad nga (So that) the people will look forward to all of these events," said Eileen San Juan, head of the City Fiesta Executive Committee.
She said that this year's Higalaay Festival will be livelier, with more people participating in the events unlike last year's.
"If you remember last year, because of the martial law, daghan medyo naay mga apprehensions sa uban nato nga mga (there are several apprehensions in some of our) sponsors and even some participants but in spite of that, you know, we went on and it was successful," San Juan said.
"So karon gyud ang feeling sa everyone (So now, everyone is feeling), even if we have martial law in Mindanao, it's a different kind of martial law and it gives order so I'm very grateful that we're doing all of these activities and in spite of the challenges, daghan ang manganhi (there are more people coming)," she added.
Mayor Oscar Moreno, for his part, agreed with San Juan, saying this year's Higalaay is better and much improved due to the teamwork and synchronization of everyone involved in the preparation for the fiesta.
"On the part of the organizing committee, you have to carefully arrange all of this core events para (so that) all of them will have the same exposure and the same hopefully same participation from the public. Hopefully, the weather would cooperate so that we can celebrate the fiesta as lively and as wonderfully as possible," Moreno said.
San Juan has also expressed concern on the rains experienced nowadays in the city, saying it's one of the challenges their committee will have to discuss about.
"Naa tay mga challenges niana kay kaning mga naa sa outdoor nga activities, medyo gyud naay... So isa na gyud na nga among istoryahan sad unsay mga back up plans kung naay mga ing ani nga... mao nang isa lugar sa atong mga challenges (We're experiencing challenges in that aspect since we have outdoor activities. So we still have to come up with back up plans for this kind of challenge)," San Juan said.
In this year's Higalaay Festival, San Juan said they are expecting for an influx of people to visit the city and participate in the various activities.
She was also pleased that there are events that even persons with disabilities can join, citing the Dragon Boat competition as an example.
"So this is something for everyone, for all, nga dili lang ang katong physically fit ang maka join (that not only those who are physically fit can join), everyone is invited to join in all of these competitions, events, and activities that are happening in Cagayan de Oro," San Juan said.
Events during the Higalaay Festival 2018 will include: Higalaay Agri Fair and Garden Show, Kumbira 2018, Kahimunan, Kagay-an Festival Marathon, Higalaay Choral Competition, Cowboy Festival, Miss Cagayan de Oro 2018 Coronation Night, 1st Motor Ace Kagay-an Dragon Boat Fiesta Race, Cagayan Carnival Parade, Higalaay Street Parade and Floats Civic Military Parade, Centrio Mall Bisperas Fireworks, 7th Mindanao Fashion Summit, Religious Procession, Fluvial Procession, SM Higalaay Pyro Festival, and Higalaay Festival Sale, among others.