Iligan’s Diyandi Festival 2016 revive “San Miguel komedya”

By Jun Enriquez

Video file: The Miss Iligan 2016 presentation

Iligan City – Iligan Fiesta celebration is a month-long festivities started with an opening salvo on September 1, with a Thanksgiving Mass at 3:00 O’clock in the afternoon at St. Michael’s Cathedral officiated by Rev. Fr. Rodrigo R. Maata. At 4:00 P.M. was the formal program of the fiesta opening salvo held outside fronting the cathedral. “Diyandi festival” is the name of the annual fiesta celebration of Iligan City. The program highlighted the presentation of candidates for Miss Iligan 2016 competition with 12 candidates exclusive for Iligan City residents only. There is also a macho “Maharlika 2016” presentation with an open category of contestants from other places with 12-candidate competition. A Miss Gay 2016 was also presented with 12 candidates competing coming from different places. The St. Michael’s choral group sung the Philippine national anthem at the opening of the program.

The St. Michael's Cathedral

Iligan City Mayor Celso Regencia was not in the event due to legal complications but sent a message read by City administrator Atty. Rafael Benedictos, and said, “the Dyandi festival celebrates every Sept 29, is the time of the year to showcase our tourism.” He extended his thanks to the Executive Management board of doing quality entertainment such as Miss Iligan and other competition that shows the talents and physiques of the contestants. The mayor emphasized that everyone anticipates the beauty and bounty the Iliganon can offer such as the famous lechon, peanuts and suka pinakurat.

The St. Michael's College Choral Group

Regencia said, the celebration is a religious festival of the Roman Catholic and one of the most significant highlights of the celebration is the Iliganons' tradition and cultural heritage, “The San Miguel Komedya”. The San Miguel Komedya depicts the fall of Lucifer rebellion over God’s faithful servant warrior St. Michael the Archangel. The komedya is revived to remind the young generation of a rich culture that they always anticipates to watch during fiesta celebrations. It is also the time to offer our gratitude to thank God through a reverend, the St. Michael and honor him through our version of Sinulog procession. Although this is a religious festival of the Roman Catholic, the meant of the celebration shows the cultural relations between the Maranao, Lumad Higaonon and Christians. Such inter-relation has united us towards prosperous and peaceful Iligan. With this Let us all work and live in harmony and prosperity during this occasion and throughout the years.

The Diyandi tribal women tradition

The event was ended with the drinking of “Pangasi”, a rice wine produced by the Lumad Higaonon headed by “Datu Diamla” in the person of City Councilor Rolando Soong, mandatory representative of the tribe. During the drinking session, Iligan City Vice Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz, a Catholic priest on leave, said that the “Pangasi” will serve to unite the people of Iligan City and celebrate Dyandi festival happily and peacefully.

City Councilor Sorilie Christine R. Bacsarpa, the overall chairperson of the Executive Management Board –Diyandi festival sa Iligan 2016, said the month-long festivities also include “Taboan sa Iligan” at Barangay Saray this will showcase selling native products and entertainment including circus shows and rides. There is also a “Fiesta sa Lechon sa Iligan” competition adopting the concept of the “fiesta sa nayon” to be held at the Iligan anahaw amphi theater. The usual Street dancing competition now called “Sayaw Saulog” – will focus on cultural based presentation with three categories. Category A is the battle of winners; Category b is inter-school competition; and Category C is a competition showing the identity of Iliganon.

 

The "Pangasi" ritual

Other activities will also have the “Parada de San Miguel”, was the civic military parade before chaired by the DepEd Superintendent Dr. Randolph Tortola. Silent drill for 25 years now will still be in the competition including drum and lyre competition called “Karakas” will also be highlighted. 

The Maharlika 2016

There are a total of 95 events on fiesta activities including sports, special events and socio cultural activities. Different committees of all the activities were already organized including the peace and order and public safety.

2nd from right, Councilor Bacsarpa

Bacsarpa in her message, “I am hoping for the fruitful, peaceful and successful fiesta celebration for this year’s Diyandi festival. ” She invites people especially the Iliganons living outside Iligan will come and join the celebrations. The event was attended by the local government officials and Barangay officials of Iligan City. (the blogger, Jun Enriquez, is a broadcast; peace journalist based in iligan City; with reports by Joan Eslit)