MAGSAYSAY, MISAMIS ORIENTAL, CHAMPIONS IN THE 33RD KAHIMUNAN FESTIVAL

LIBERTAD, BUTUAN CITY – Despite the hot weather, a massive number of Butuanon devotees of Sr. Sto. Niño and visitors flocked to witness the annual celebration that started with the street dancing from J.C Aquino Avenue to Butuan City Sports Complex, Libertad on Sunday, January 19, 2020.

The Showdown Competition of the Grand Kahimunan Festival commenced past one o’clock in the afternoon.

The word “Kahimunan” also means gathering wherein a yearly event is celebrated, commemorating the feast of Señor Santo Niño in Brgy. Libertad, Butuan City. This year, eight contingents from different neighboring places joined the 33rd Kahimunan Festival.

LIST OF MAJOR WINNERS OF THE KAHIMUNAN FESTIVAL:

· 2ND RUNNER UP: SANTIAGO, AGUSAN DEL NORTE (Best in Street Performance)

· 1st RUNNER UP: ZILLOVIA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, TALACOGON, AGUSAN DEL SUR (Best in Musicality)

· CHAMPION: MAGSAYSAY COLLEGE, POBLACION MAGSAYSAY, MISAMIS ORIENTAL (Best in Costume and Best in Choreography)

Magsaysay College contingent dance is inspired by the preservation of the Higaunon Tribe culture. According to their choreographer, Jeremiah Butalid Labial, they desire to develop the said tribe, which symbolizes the Municipality of Magsaysay.

“Ang among sayaw, pag-preserbar sa kultura tribong Higaunon ug pagpalambo ni ini nga unta hangtod sa umaabot na henerasyon, naa pa gihapon ang kulturang Higaunon ug Tribong Higaunon nga maoy sumbanan sa munisipyo sa Magsaysay,” Labial said.

(Our dance is about preserving and developing the Higaunon tribe. We hope that the culture of the tribe continues even until the next generation because it is the symbol of the municipality of Magsaysay.)

Mayor Rey Bohisan, Mayor of the Municipality of Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental, is grateful for their first time win in the competition.

“Unsa sa tanan nagpasalamat ko sa labawng makakagahum, kay Sr. Sto. Niño sa enlightenment and guidance. Kami, as a matter of fact, fist time namo sa pag-apil niining Kahimunan festival. So, salamat kaayo sa City of Butuan kay natagaan chance mi nga makadaog,” Mayor Bohisan said.

(First of all, I would like to thank the Almighty God, to Sr. Sto. Niño, for enlightenment and guidance. As a matter of fact, it is our first time joining the Kahimunan festival. So, I am grateful to the City of Butuan for this chance of winning the competition.)

People are also fascinated by the person from the Magsaysay contingent dressed up as Sto. Niño.

Overall, Most Rev. Cosme Damian R. Almedilla, DD is pleased with the activity, headed by the Sto. Niño Dioces Shrine in Brgy. Libertad, for an orderly and peaceful event which he said, is his first time to witness.