THE streets of Kananga in Leyte came alive during the third-year celebration of the Kananga Kaanyag Festival, the town's official cultural showcase.
At least six contingents joined this year’s ritual dance showdown held on Sunday afternoon, June 15.
In the school-based category, participants were Kananga II District (Mattswerting Kanangahanon), Kananga III District (Banay Alimyon), and Kananga I District (Kanangahanong Mattahum).
The open category included Tribu ni Don Mariano Lantawan Festival of Capoocan, Leyte, STI College Ormoc/Ormoc City’s Pundok sa Nagkahiusang Ormocanon, and Pundok sa Villabanhanong Manaragat.
In a press conference, Kananga Mayor Manuel Vicente "Matt" Torres thanked visitors and expressed his aspiration to present Kananga Kaanyag at national-level competitions such as Cebu’s Sinulog and the Aliwan Festival.
He also took pride in the town’s festival, calling it a "vital cultural heritage" and a product of "intensive and comprehensive cultural mapping" in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
The finalists for Kananga Kaanyag Festival Queen 2025 were Arian Mae Cogay (Kananga II District), Shielo Sabornido (Kananga III), Pia Lovelle Omega (Kananga I), Eliana Gunabe Igamen (Tribu ni Don Mariano, Lantawan Festival), Ashley Marie Rojas (STI College Ormoc/Ormoc City), and Rea Joy Encienzo Cometa (Pundok sa Villabanhanong Manaragat).
One of the highlights of this year’s competition, in line with the town's 75th founding anniversary, was the increase in major prizes, with the top award for the ritual dance category rose from P200,000 to P500,000, while the street dance prize increased from P20,000 to P50,000, enhancing the competitive spirit of the contingents. (Ronald O. Reyes/SunStar Philippines)