ILIGAN City — The Higaonon people of Iligan will have a permanent annual platform to celebrate their culture and traditions, with the city government institutionalizing a festival backed by a ₱5-million yearly allocation.
City Ordinance No. 26-7875 establishes the annual Kaamulan Ta Bayug Iligan City Festival, providing continued funding for cultural activities and heritage preservation for the city's Indigenous community.
The measure was adopted under Resolution No. 26-725.
The city launched Kag-amul-amul Hu Banwa on Oct. 19 as part of the 29th Indigenous Peoples' Month and the commemoration of the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act (IPRA).
Festivities are scheduled to continue until Dec. 20, 2026.
For the Higaonon community, the annual allocation is intended to help sustain cultural programs beyond a single celebration and give younger generations more opportunities to learn about their heritage.
The festival features traditional rituals, a Higaonon Youth Summit, painting competitions and cultural night presentations highlighting Higaonon beliefs, harvest traditions and spiritual practices, including Pathala, a traditional form of reverence.
Mayor Frederick W. Siao said development should benefit all sectors, particularly Indigenous communities, and go hand in hand with protecting their rights and cultural heritage.
“Unsa man ang progresibo nga Iligan kon aduna pay mabiyaan?” Siao said, stressing that progress should not leave anyone behind.
City Administrator Darwin J. Manubag said the Higaonon heritage is part of the city's shared identity.
“As Iliganons, we must celebrate the Higaonon in us because they are part of our identity and culture,” Manubag said.
Councilor Renandang Mansumayan Comonog, the city's Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative, invited Maranaos, Higaonons, Christians and other residents to take part in the celebration.
Comonog thanked the local government for institutionalizing the festival, saying the annual funding would help sustain cultural activities for the Indigenous community.
The initiative builds on Iligan's annual Maranao Festival, held every July, and reinforces the city's identity as the “City of the Triculture,” home to Maranaos, Higaonons and Christians.
The Higaonon are recognized as among the area's original inhabitants. Their traditions and sacred sites, including Limunsudan Falls, remain part of the community's cultural heritage.
City officials said preserving this heritage is essential to understanding Iligan's history and strengthening its identity as a tricultural community.
The initiative also supports the city's cultural aspirations, including its bid under the UNESCO Creative Cities initiative.
