“Sayaw Saulog” highlighted Iligan City Fiesta “Diyandi” Festival 2015

“Sayaw Saulog” highlighted Iligan City Fiesta “Diyandi” Festival 2015

By Malyne Gungob

Iligan City (September 27, 2015) – Diyandi is a ritual performed by an all-female group outside the Cathedral during the Pagpakanaug (St. Michael the Archangel will be moved down from the Altar), usually a week before the fiesta. Iligan City fiesta is celebrated every 29th day of September. The “Pakanaug” will be done before every novena and before the start of the Komedya, or Comedia de San Miguel, a folk stage play depicting the celestial battle. The ritual depicts the courtship between a Maranao male and Higaonon female, and culminating into an offering symbolic of their union and bountiful harvest to St. Michael the Archangel. The ritual aptly describes the peaceful co-existence of Iligan’s tri-people-Maranaos, Higaonons and Christians. Diyandi in the Higaonon context means a celebration or thanksgiving.

Acting Mayor Rudy Marzo in his fiesta message said, the success of Diyandi Festival, just like the festivals in other cities, is commonly gauge on its “kabibo” or gaity. This is why I made my instruction to the Executive Management Board in three words, “Pabibohon ang Iligan!”, meaning make iligan more festive. “Pagpabibo” includes the holding of crowd-fascinating socio-cultural activities, sports competitions and special events in parallel with Iligan tri-people’s distinctive devotion to our patron saint, St. Michael the Archangel. Rest assured that peace and order is also a priority of the celebration.

During this day in the early Sunday morning, the Iligan City fiesta celebrated “Sayaw Saulog 2015” successfully conducted at the Anahaw Amphitheater, City Hall, Buhanginan Hill, Palao, Iligan City. The “Sayaw Saulog” was organized by the Iligan League of Barangay Councilors (ILBACO) in cooperation of Local Government Unit (LGU) of Iligan City. Thousands of Iliganons and visitors witnessed the event.

The “Sayaw Saulog” started with a street-dancing competition assembled in the port area, west of Iligan City at 6:00 O’clock in the morning. There were eight Barangay contingents participated in the of Sayaw Saulog, namely Barangays Dalipuga, Abuno, Sta. Elena, Tipanoy, Acmac, Mahayahay, Ditucalan and Cabacsanan. The contingents walked traversing in a 3-kilometer distance going to the Anahaw Amphitheater at the City Hall, east of Iligan City for the final showdown. 

The final showdown started at 10:00 O’clock in the morning and each Barangay was composed of 160 member-participants with their props. Each contingent have 12 minutes to perform their movements of “Sayaw Saulog” showdown with the criteria for judging, 20% mastery, 40% choreography and 40% Musicality, a total of 100%. A 3-tribal concept was presented by each contingent, the Maranao, Higaonon and Christian Tribes.

The winners of the Sayaw Saulog dance and stage showdown competition received cash prizes and Barangay Projects from the LGU of Iligan City. The winners of the Sayaw Saulog 2015, the champion was contingent # 3, Barangay Sta. Elena received 150 thousand pesos cash prize and 700 thousand pesos worth of barangay project. They also received minor awards like best in Higaonon presentation, best in Maranao presentation, best in Senior San Miguel presentation and best in Skrima presentation. 

The 1^st runner-up was contingent # 4, Barangay Tipanoy, received 100 thousand pesos cash prize and 500 thousand pesos worth of barangay project. The 2^nd runner-up is contingent # 2, Barangay Abuno and they received cash price of 50 thousand pesos and 300 thousand pesos worth of barangay project with minor award like best in musicality.

In addition, all the participating contingents performed extraordinary synchronized shouts and dances emphasized thanks to the Patron St. Michael the Archangel. The street-dancing competition is a replica of the war between good and evil, in which St. Michael the Archangel is the angel of the light fighting for the good of humanity and Lucifer is the angel of the dark fighting for the interest of the evil, the pitfall and sufferings of humanity. In the end, St. Michael the Archangel won over Lucifer and in real sense good always prevail over evil.   

The Iligan City fiesta “Sayaw-Saulog” competition was in honor of the St. Michael the Archangel, reminding the People of Iligan to open their minds, especially the tri-people of Iligan City, the Lumads, Muslims and Christians for the better cultural understanding and peace.

During the press conference in preparation for the Iligan City fiesta celebration, Acting City Mayor Rudy Marzo said there were at least 200 fiesta activities with a budget of 12 million pesos to attract more tourists and visitors to come and witness the fiesta celebration, especially inviting businessmen and investors. Fiesta activities considered were street-dancing competition, civil-military parade, sports, beauty contest, and many others. 

Upon assumption as the Acting Mayor of Iligan City started in April 2015, due to the suspension of incumbent Mayor Celso Regencia for 6 months on the alleged usurpation of the power of the Vice Mayor, Marzo organized the Crime and calamity action team (CCAT) chaired by his office and assured the people of Iligan City of having a very peaceful fiesta celebration by mobilizing the security sector who are also members of the CCAT lead by the Police personnel in cooperation with the military, National Bureau of Investigation, land transportation office, Barangay tanods and civilian volunteers, the Iligan Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Civil Security Unit, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the media and many others, to secure all the places in Iligan City into safe communities. In general situation, the Iligan City fiesta celebration 2015 was commemorated peacefully and successfully. With reports, video & photos by Jun Enriquez.