Oro to mark 4th centennial of original settlement

THE Cagayan de Oro Historical and Cultural Commission will be holding a two-day event this week to mark the formal launch of a decade of celebration for the 4th Centennial of the city’s founding as a settlement.

Forum Kagay-anon 390 is a 10-year program that will usher in the fourth centennial of the founding of the city’s original settlement in the Barangay 1 area, said Dr. Erlinda Burton, Hiscom chair.

Forum Kagay-anon 390 kicks off on Thursday with “Paseo sa Kabilin,” a tour of the city’s three museums and the heritage areas of Plaza Divisoria and Gaston Park.

Included in the half-day itinerary are the Capitol University Museum of  Three Cultures, Liceo de Cagayan University La Castilla Lifestyle Museum, Xavier University Museo de Oro and walking tours of historic Plaza Divisoria, the City Museum and Gaston Park-Cagayan de Oro Metropolitan Cathedral area.

The Paseo would immediately be followed by a one-day Tabo sa Kabilin at Gaston Park.

“This will be a market place for our cultural heritage and for sale will be pictures, handicrafts, heritage foods and snacks for the enjoyment of our people,” said Dr. Burton.

The highlight of the two-day event would be the ground breaking for the new City Museum Annex Building on Friday at the adjacent lot of the Cagayan de Oro City Museum (Old Water Tower).

In keeping with tradition, the ground breaking would be preceded by a pamuhat (ritual) at the new building site and the river banks along Duaw Park by a Higaonon Baylan to be facilitated by Datu Masikal.

Mayor Oscar Moreno has been invited to welcome the stakeholders expected to be present for the occasion while former mayor Constantino Jaraula has also been invited to deliver an inspirational talk. The City Museum project was realized during the administration of the latter.