President Arroyo to grace Tsada Kagay-an Festival 2006

It will be a truly global celebration of the city fiesta for Cagayan de Oro, as no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will grace the event on August 28, 2006.

City councilor and chair of the Tsada Kagay-an Festival 2006 Jose Benjamin Benaldo disclosed that the Office of the President already confirmed President Arroyo's arrival on the day of the city fiesta.

While in Cagayan de Oro, President Arroyo will inaugurate the P118 million west diversion road that traverses from Bulua national highway passing through barangay Canitoan and ends at Upper Balulang, near SM City and Lumbia domestic airport.

Aside from the west diversion road inauguration, the President will also grace the Lambagohan Festival at the Cagayan de Oro River, one of the biggest events to coincide with the city fiesta.

Councilor Benaldo is optimistic that the President's visit in time for the city fiesta celebration will boost the city's intention to promote the Tsada Kagay-an Festival 2006 as a global tourism showcase.

Aside from the Lambagohan Festival, guests and visitors can also witness and participate in the grandest Kagay-an Festival, a street dancing showdown at the streets of Capistrano, Del Pilar and Velez on August 25.

Clad in indigenous costumes dominated by gold color, contingents coming from the city and other places in Northern Mindanao will compete in lively and intricate dance steps for fabulous cash prizes.

Cagayanons and guests who will witness the Kagay-an Festival can also get the chance to win prizes and surprises if they come in the most colorful and creative costumes in consonance with the celebration's theme, 'Saulogon Ta Ang Bulawanong Kagikan'.

Other activities lined up for the city fiesta celebration are the Indigay sa Banda sa Divisoria, Pista sa Kaumahan, Search for Miss Cagayan de Oro, Kumbira, Fashion Dayag, Mayor's Marathon, Nightly Cultural Show, Rodeo and Horse Show, and pop singing competition, among others.

But more than just the fiesta activities, guests and visitors may also experience adventure activities that Cagayan de Oro is famous for, such as the whitewater rafting, pinoy rafting, kayaking, spelunking, rapelling, skybridge walk and ziplining.

While in Cagayan de Oro for the city fiesta, guests and visitors may also learn Higaonon and Tinikling dances, tribal beadwork and indigenous weaving at the Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village. (City Information Office)

Fiesta Update: Whitewater Rafting Challenge slated Aug. 27

Got the adrenalin rush to compete for the 1st Mayor Vicente Y. Emano Cup-Whitewater Rafting Challenge Sprint Event? If you have the strength and the courage, join the event on August 27, 2006.

This was disclosed by Roldan Kaamino event director who was tasked by City Councilor Alexander Dacer, chair of the Lambagohan Festival as one of the activities of the Lambagohan Festival-- a festival that aims to pay tribute to the Cagayanons' riverine life as a way of fulfilling its responsibility to the city's past.

Kaamino said that the event will be staged at the Cagayan de Oro River, along Carmen Bridge.

Interested participants should form a four-man team ages 18 to 60 years old and must be physically fit. Registration fee is P500.00 per team and deadline for submission of entries will be on August 22, 2006 and may register at the ABC office, 3rd floor of J.V. Serina building and look for Titing Eduave.

He said that there will be three winners and each will receive a cash prize of P7,000 + trophy for the first prize, P5,000 + trophy for the 2nd prize and P3,000 + trophy for the 3rd prize. (City Information Office)

CdO ballet school to honor country's ballet pioneer

The foremost ballet school in Cagayan de Oro, Grace and Pointes Dance Center in Macasandig is staging the 'Of Roots and Wings' ballet show on August 16, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. at the Grand Ballroom of Grand Caprice Restaurant.

The said show is a tribute to the country's pioneer of ballet dancing-- Madame Fe Sala Villarica before she will retire in Spain. Villarica dedicated her life to the performing arts and molded her students into one of the country's successful artists.

The City Tourism Office disclosed that shows like this should be supported by the Cagayanons since they are developing local talents in ballet. The city is also honored to be Madame Villarica's last stop before she will leave for Spain at the end of the month.

The show is for free and those who wanted to donate some amount may do so for the benefit of the 60 ballet scholars at the Daughters of Divine Love in Gusa, this city. (City Information Office)

or the benefit of the 60 ballet scholars at the Daughters of Divine Love in Gusa, this city. (City Information Office)

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