Organizers of this year’s Naliyagan Festival vowed a grander celebration to mark Agusan del Sur’s commemoration of its 50th founding anniversary and 25th year of the lumad-inspired socio-cultural festival.
This year’s festival will also be the longest, to be held from June 10-17.
Festival-goers can expect to be entertained with new and improved lineup of activities as a fitting tribute to the province’s golden anniversary and Naliyagan Festival’s silver year, according to Provincial Board Member Santiago Cane, chair of the Naliyagan Festival executive committee.
“This year’s celebration has been extended to eight days from the traditional six-days due to the insistent public demand asking for more exciting and enjoyable events,” BM Cane said.
He said new festivity highlights include the traditional tribal wedding, horse show competition, ‘pintahusay’ (on-the-spot painting contest, barn dance competition , outstanding Agusanon awards will add more excitement to the previous year’s crowd drawers like the bauto (banca) race, BMX bridge crossing challenge and the Naliyagan tribal street dancing competition.
The trade fair featuring local agricultural products, home-made delicacies and the inauguration of the provincial mini-museum will also showcase the province’s achievements.
Another come-on of the celebration is the Bai Naliyagan beauty contest which will feature local beauties and brains from the 13 towns and the city of Bayugan. The candidates will vie for the coveted crown with former Miss Universe 2011 third runner up Shamcey Supsup-Lee hosting the pageant night.
Tribal leaders from different tribes in the province will kick off the celebration with the traditional ‘panawagtawag’ (calling of the gods) ritual. They will be staying throughout the duration of the festival and will be billeted at the capitol’s guest house with VIP accommodation, officials said.
State of the Province
On the festival’s last day, June 17, Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza will deliver his State-of-the-Province Address on the foundation day of Agusan del Sur at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall.
Manny Rosaut, president and chief executive officer of Naliyagan Festival Stakeholders Foundation, said at least 12 famous rock bands from Manila and several other popular show business personalities will perform the nightly concert before the spectacular fireworks display.
Among those who will perform will be Bamboo, Gloc 9, The Dawn, songstress Imelda Papin, homegrown popular folk singer Bayang Barrios and many others.
Malacanang officials who are expected to grace the festival are presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo, and Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol. President Rodrigo Duterte was invited but Cane said the President has a prior commitment to attend the same 50th founding anniversary of neighboring Agusan del Norte province.
This year’s celebration, however, will come with extra tight security with the Capitol deploying hundreds of police and Army troopers who will secure the four-hectare Datu Lipus Makapandong Cultural Center. The venue will also be equipped with CCTV cameras, and the security force will be be complemented with K9 dogs and aerial drones.
Officials said the added security preparation aims to thwart any attempts of violence in the wake of the imposition of martial rule in Mindanao. (PNA)
