ILIGAN CITY – Thousands of residents witnessed the 27th Kasadya Street Dancing and Merry-Making Competition topped by Barangay Santa Filomena on Tuesday, Sept. 27, as part of the Diyandi Festival in honor of St. Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of this city.
Barangay Santa Filomena, which pocketed P300,000 and a trophy, also won five special awards – Best in Senor San Miguel, Best in Maranao, Best in Higaonon, Best in Batalya (eskrima), and Best in Musicality.
First runner-up was Barangay Saray, also Best in Yawa-Yawa (Devil-Devil) and Best in Street Dancing, and second runner-up was Barangay Buru-un and Best in Diyandi.
Barangay Saray won P200,000 and and Barangay Buru-un, P100,000, aside from trophies.
Special awardees won cash prizes from P12,500 to P25,000.
They danced on the street all the way to the Anahaw Amphitheater where the showdown and final judging was held.
Mayor Frederick W. Siao here said he is honored to be the city chief executive celebrating the Diyandi Festival which was on hold for two years due to the pandemic.
“Kaning atong celebration mao ang atong pag pasalamat kay Senior San Miguel nga gitagaan gayud kitag chance nga mabalik ang kabibo sa Iligan (This celebration we have is our thanksgiving to Senor San Miguel who have given us a chance to bring back the festivities in Iligan),” Siao said.
“In general, we are so happy for the turn out of the Kasadya street dancing, it's so organized from start to finish. The 12 contingents were very ready and people stayed to witness the proclamation of winners in our most awaited and the biggest cultural event of Iligan City,” said City Administrator Darwin Manubag.
Twelve barangays here – Dalipuga, Acmac, Rogongon, Santa Filomena, Pala-o, Pugaan, Ubaldo D. Laya, Saray, Tambacan, Maria Cristina, Tibanga, and Buru-un – competed.