THE contingent from Barangay Macabalan, Cagayan de Oro City on Sunday, August 25, bagged the P150,000 cash prize after it won as champion in the carnival street dance competition of this year's Higalaay Festival.
Following the champion was the contingent from Barangay Bugo, which won as the first runner up and received a cash prize worth P90,000, and the team of Barangay Patag and Patag National High School as second runner up, receiving P65,000.
The aforementioned three winners, apart from the cash prize, also received trophies.
Special awards were also given to three contingents, namely: Barangay Patag and Patag National High School for the Best in Carnival Costume; Barangay Bugo as the Most Higalaay Contingent; and Barangay Balulang-SK Council and Balulang National High School as the Most Disciplined.
The festival king of Barangay Bugo got the title of Higalaay Festival King, while the Higalaay Festival Queen came from Barangay Patag/Patag National High School.
Festival King first and second runner ups came from Barangays Macabalan and Macasandig, respectively. Festival Queen first and second runner ups, on the other hand, came from Barangays Bugo and Kauswagsan.
The Higalaay Carnival Street Dance Competition was participated by 13 contingents, with Tagoloan as the sole competitor from outside Cagayan de Oro.
The participants were also joined by the marching bands and guests West City Central School Drum and Lyre Corp., City Central School Marching Band, and the Gaisano/CDOTC-MTC.
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach were also seen joining the dancers in the street dance last Sunday.
"Ang street dancing has a special significance sa ato dinhi sa pulo sa Mindanao," City Mayor Oscar Moreno said during his message.
"All of the tribes sa Mindanao naa kanang street dancing. Bisan asa ka mopaingon sa Mindanao, naa kanang street dancing. It’s a way of celebrating a very, very wonderful occasion and kapistahan nato, so naay street dancing," he added.
Moreno also congratulated all the participating dancers for their performances and remarked that they "already won the hearts of the people of Cagayan de Oro."