KAUSWAGAN, Lanao del Norte (PIA)--In celebration of the Hugyaw sa Kadagatan (Sea Dancing) festival, clusters from 13 barangays here showcased floats made of bamboo rafts that were decorated to animate the marine life commonly found in the municipality.
The festival coincides with the month-long celebration of the town’s 75th founding anniversary and the feast of Senior San Vicente Ferrer.
The festival is celebrated annually as a thanksgiving for the abundant harvest from the sea and the promotion of sustainable environmental protection.
"It is a celebration of bountiful harvest not only from the seas but also from farming. We do this every year as a prelude activity towards our fiesta on April 25," said Mayor Rommel Arnado.
The coastal village of Libertad Cluster No. 2 bagged the major awards in three competitions.
Barangay Libertad bagged the first prize for the sea dancing competition and won P100,000, followed by Cluster 3- Barangay Poblacion as 1st runner and Cluster 1 Barangay Tugar and Paiton, and Cluster 7 Barangay Kawit Oriental and Delabayan that tied as 2nd runner ups.
For the gakit or float competition, Barangay Libertad won the grand prize worth P200,000, followed by Barangay Poblacion with P150,000, and Barangays Tugar and Paiton that won P100,000.
Contingents from Barangay Libertad of Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte dance on the streets during the Hugyaw sa Kadagatan festival. (ADD/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
Moreover, Barangay Libertad tied with Barangay Tacub for the street dancing competition.
Overall, the local government allotted P1.3 million for the grand and consolation prizes.
With the annual celebration, the mayor hopes that the town will continue to receive bountiful blessings.
"Hinaot unta nga panalanginan ang lungsod sa Kauswagan sa atong patron nga si Senior San Vicente Ferrer, hoping ma-energize pa and mastrengthen pa nato ang hugot nga pag-ampo nga hinaot unta magpadayon ang atong kalinaw ug pag asenso diri sa lungsod sa Kauswagan," he said.
(I hope the town will be blessed with progress by our patron saint, Senior San Vicente Ferrer. I hope that we can still energize and strengthen the strong prayer that hopefully peace and progress will continue here in Kauswagan)
There were also other activities held in the month-long celebration in the city, such as the first air show, Color Me Fun Run, job fair, and Ms. Hugyaw sa Kadagatan festival. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
