Standing out for its strong emphasis on friendship and unity, the grander Higalaay Festival kicked off its month-long celebration on August 1 at Rio de Oro Boulevard, Cagayan de Oro City.  The festival features a diverse array of events that showcase the city's culture, heritage, and religious devotion

"Ang kinabuhi ni Senyor San Agustin usa ka ehemplo sa pagbag-o ug paglambo. Saulogon nato kini nga kapistahan nga puno sa gugma, pagtinabangay, pag-inambitay ug panaghigalaay [The life of St. Augustine is an example of change and development. Let's celebrate this festival full of love, cooperation, sharing, and friendship]," Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando "Klarex" Uy said.

The festival features 19 events this year, including a fluvial and religious procession in honor of the feast of St. Augustine on the 28th.

"Because businesses are doing well, this year we have a bigger budget, through the support of Mayor Rolando Uy. Gidakoan gyud niya ang budget this year for the exact reason nga dapat ato gyung pabibohon ang atong fiesta activities because we have bigger prizes this year [He augmented the budget for this year to have grander fiesta activities and bigger cash prizes this year]," said Cagayan de Oro City Councilor Jay Roa Pascual, co-vice-chair of, Higalaay Festival 2023.

The councilor emphasized that the city government aims to bring the Higalaay Festival more accessible to the people. In addition to the 19 core festival events, there are 49 parallel activities, such as zumba, disco, cosplay, sports, and more, that will take place throughout the entire month of August.

City Tourism Officer Rico Libre, who also serves as the co-vice chair of the Cagayan de Oro City Higalaay Festival, highlighted that the festival aligns with the current administration's "CDO RISE" platform. A platform that focuses on Regional Leadership: Metropolization, Accessibility and Connectivity; Institutional Development and Participatory Governance; Safety, Security and Human Development; and Economic Recovery.

"Our activities are inviting tourists, and we have plenty of new activities karong tuiga [this year]. We are expecting visitors to come over to Cagayan de Oro," Libre said.

During the launch, a total of 367 security personnel from the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO), the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Department (CDRRMD), the Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Oro Task Force, barangay tanods, and the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) were deployed to ensure safety throughout the activity.

As the city embraced the new normal, Pascual mentioned last year's celebration was very challenging at the height of the pandemic. However, this year, there are fewer COVID threats, allowing for more possibilities for conducting events. Thus, this year's Higalaay includes "Suroy Sa Ta!"  a heritage walking tour scheduled from August 7 to 11.

The festival will also feature an agro-fair, trade fairs at the malls, a rhythmic field demonstration competition, a civic military parade, a fashion summit, and a prelude to the Kumbira food festival, among others.

The city will also host the CDO National Horse Show and Competition and the Premiere Volleyball League (PVL) on Tour on August 19 at the Sen. Aquilino Pimentel International Convention Center in Barangay Indahag.

The International Dragon Boat Competition, scheduled on August 19–20, will feature a 2,000-meter race dubbed "The King of Cagayan River."

As Higalaay 2023 enters its final week, the Cagayan de Oro Fiesta sa Barrio is slated for the 23rd at the Sports Center, evoking a nostalgic ambiance. The event will feature "katutubong laro" (traditional games) that Filipinos play and the traditional way of celebrating town fiestas.

Among the Higalaay's core events are Miss Cagayan de Oro on the 26th and the Street Dancing Competition on the 27th. The latter will honor CDO's patron Saint Augustine, the city's colorful past, and Higaonon heritage through the nine steps or choreography.

To cap off the Higalaay Festival, there will be a religious procession in honor of Saint Augustine around the city to and from the St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral and a fluvial procession at the Cagayan River, spanning from Barangay Puntod to Duaw Park near the cathedral on the early morning of the 28th. (SAYU/PIA-10)