AFTER two years of no public events, Barangay Carmen in Cagayan de Oro City celebrated the Dinogan Festival in the new normal from July 12 to 14 with several activities to honor its patron saint Nuestra Señora del Carmen.
City Mayor Rolando "Klarex" Uy reminded the residents of Carmen and all who attended the festival, especially those who have not been vaccinated, to secure their shots including their booster shots.
"Naa pa ang pandemya, naa pa ang Covid. Hinaot magmatngon ta aron mapadayon kining mga kasaulogan," Uy said.
"Mag-obserbar ta ug magdasig ko, mag-awhag ako kaninyo kadtong wala pa na-vaccinate, ma-vaccinan na unta. Dasigon mo nako mga igsuon kay para kini sa atong kaugalingon panglawas," he added.
Barangay Carmen conducted several activities and games during the three-day festival. The major events include the Pista sa Nayon, Dinogan Festival Street Dancing and the Civic Parade.
The winner of the Dinogan Festival Street Dancing Competition, Cluster 4 (Zone 8, 10, 11), received P200,000 cash prize. They also won several special awards including Best in Choreography, Most Discipline, Best in Musicality, Best in Costume, and Best in Street Dancing.
The first places, Cluster 3 (Zone 9), received P120,000, and the second placer, Cluster 1 (Zone 1 to 4), received P100,000.
Meanwhile, Cluster 5 (Zone 12 and 13) got the title of Festival King, while the Festival Queen came from Cluster 1.
Apart from the city mayor, also present during the event were City Councilors Yan Lam Lim, George Goking, Imee Rose Moreno and Jay Roa-Pascual, and former vice mayor Raineir Joaquin "Kikang" Uy.
The old name of Barangay Carmen was derived from the fact that it was forested by Dinog trees.