- Advertisement -

A. Paulita Roa .

(We are reprinting this column, which appeared in this paper on Thursday, because of a mistake. There was a mix-up in the continuation. Our apologies to our readers and to Ms. Roa for the confusion that resulted from our oversight. -Editors)

- Advertisement -

 

THE town of “Cagayan de Misamis” during the Spanish colonial period was simply called “Cagayan” during the American colonial era. The celebration of the town fiesta took a new turn under the Americans. They introduced the concept of having beauty queens and holding sports competitions during fiestas.

Gone were the days when big boats from the different towns of Misamis province would sail upriver for the fiesta celebration with their respective bands playing on board. This time, the Cagayan river was the scene of the annual swimming competition. The swimmers start at the mouth of the river and the finish line was near the Municipio building formerly known as the Casa Real. This was very challenging to the competitors because they were swimming against the currents of the river.

There was no more “juego de toro” or bullfight in the afternoons at the town plaza (now the Gaston Park) that usually commenced during the start of the nine day novena to San Agustin, instead the very popular baseball games were played there by young students. The late Joseph Arcache, who rose to become a prominent businessman in Manila and was one of the founders of the Liberal Party, recalled that he once won the running contest during one town fiesta and was given a medal and a sack of rice as his premios or prizes. He was later among a group of young male students from the Misamis Oriental High School who was sent to compete on a big sports event in Tacloban, Leyte.

The town beauty queens were a class in itself. Miss Cagayan was chosen for her beauty and impeccable family background. She also exemplified grace, good breeding and was not only educated but cultured as well. She was usually crowned on the 30th of December then later it was moved during the town fiesta as evidenced in the old prewar photos of the beauty queens. The coronation program had different themes like English Eygptian or Filipiniana. Miss Cagayan had a court consisting of equally lovely princesses and the town’s most eligible and handsome men as their escorts. All were dressed in colorful and glittery costumes. A poem or “balak” was usually written for the “hara” or queen and was recited on her coronation night. Special  program that was opened by a Rigodon de honor was then performed by the town’s prominent men and women to honor Miss Cagayan and her court. The coronation night of Miss Cagayan was always a grand social affair of the town.

Fiesta of 1945

Cagayan was in the painful process of rebuilding for the Americans heavily bombed it in order to flush out the remnants of the Japanese Imperial Army who were holed up in different places in town. Cagayan was finally liberated  from the enemy on May 10, 1945. A Kagay-anon recalled that when he disembarked from the boat in Macabalan wharf, he saw that the town was practically leveled to the ground with an exception of around five or six buildings. The beautiful San Agustin church was totally destroyed by bombs several months earlier.

On Aug. 6, 1945, the Municipal Board of Cagayan passed Resolution No. 26 urging the people to celebrate the fiesta. By this time, the town fiesta was celebrated on Aug. 26 and on Aug. 28, a high mass and a religious procession was usually held. For the 1945 fiesta, the town held a beauty contest and the winner was crowned as “Miss Star of Liberation.” The special guests were the officers and men of the X Corps of the US Army who were assigned in Cagayan.

Dances and musicales were held and a special tableau for the enjoyment of the guests. The 1945 fiesta showed the indomitable spirit of the Kagay-anon who, after going through one of the darkest and most painful periods in our nation’s history, was able to rise up and celebrate a new beginning of life — for himself and for his beloved Cagayan.

Disclaimer

Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.

- Advertisement -