City Hall to launch ‘Higalaay Festival’ at Rio de Oro Boulevard

NEXT month’s Higalaay Festival will be launched at the recently opened Rio de Oro Boulevard, as City Hall lined up 49 programs and activities for the month-long festivities, an administration councilor confirmed on Wednesday.

During the program ‘Ang Inyong Konseho Karon’ hosted by the City Information Office, Councilor Jay Roa Pascual explained that Cagayan de Oro City is making up for the past two years of near ‘virtual exclusive’ only events held in 2020 and 2022 due to health restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year, Pascual cited a more robust calendar of programs lined up for the fiesta month of August.

“We really need to invite everyone especially those from the provinces of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon and our neighboring towns and cities so that our annual Higalaay Festival will be more lively,” Pascual said in Visayan.

For the opening, Pascual said they decided to launch the Higalaay Festival on Rio de Oro Boulevard which opened to the public in May.

“Before, we launched the Higalaay Festival in the malls but this year, we want the launching to be held in an open public space so more people will get to enjoy the launching,” Pascual said in Visayan.

A fireworks display, food stalls, and live band music will be held at the festival launching, he said.

“We are also proposing to hold a ‘rave party’ similar to that held during Barangay Carmen fiesta,” Pascual said.

Pascual, who chairs the 20th City Council’s tourism committee, outlined the 49 activities for the city’s fiesta calendar during the program, particularly the nine core events.

These core events include the Miss Cagayan de Oro beauty pageant, the Higalaay Festival launching, the International Dragon Boat competition, Rhythmic Field Demonstration, Float and Civic Military Parade, and Street Dancing.

Also included are the Fiesta Sa Baryo and Fluvial Parade and Procession while the ninth core event will be the Philippine Volleyball League (PVL) tour to be held at the Pelaez Sports Center, Pascual said.

The tour is separate from the PVL-sponsored match to be held at the Aquilino Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)