ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews/31 August) – It was the turn of media workers here to be feted to a night of songs and dances when the city opened the month-long Dyandi Festival with Pakighimamat sa Prensa (Meeting the Press) at Elena Tower Inn.

“With the theme ‘Tuyhakaw Iligan, Cge Go!’, this city must rise for peace and development through media’s indispensable role to showcase the city’s wholesome image and subsequently help improve our economy by enticing investors with what we could offer,” Dalangin said.

He said “Cebu succeeded when media workers helped promote its potentials as an island. We hope we could do the same.”

“We hereby declare the Dyandi festival open with media workers eager and zealous to promote the glory of this city,” he said.

Media workers received a red carpet welcome and were ushered in by the top twelve candidates for the Miss Iligan beauty contest.

City Mayor Lawrence Lluch Cruz called thenight a “rare occasion to gather media workers, whether they’d be critical or appreciative, to honor them as partners of development. This is a special night because we are asking for your support to promote our feast as the most joyous in our history but at the same time with minimal cost.”

“We will make Iligan prosperous, beautiful and peaceful despite events in the past years. This is the reason why we have also here with us Col. Benito De Leon, commanding officer of the 104th Infantry Brigade and our new city police director because we’d seek their pro-active support for the preservation of our peace.”

“We should be careful, vigilant and alert. I take off my hat and salute media of this city, our partner in making the 2009 fiesta peaceful, festive and well-promoted. Tuyhakaw Iligan, Cge Go!” Cruz exclaimed.

Agnes Maingat, head of the city tourism office, presented the calendar of activities for the whole month which features cultural shows, free medical services, and various programs that will culminate with a street dancing in honor of the city’s patron Saint Michael.

Rep. Vicente Belmonte (1^st District of Lanao del Norte) asked everyone to put behind political differences. 

“We should not get embroiled with politics as we enjoy our feast. I ask media to report the best and what is beautiful in Iligan city,” Belmonte said.

“We thank the city government for recognizing the media’s role in building our community. This is our first time ever to be treated so importantly,” said Leo Pairat, a broadcaster and anchorman of a local station here, in response to the city officials’ statements. 

Octava Choral society, which recently bagged gold and silver in an international choral competition at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, opened the occasion followed by a festive lion and dragon dance by Chinese pupils, their customary way of dispelling misfortune.

Traditional Higaonon and Maranao dances performed by the Kaamulan Cultural Group, a multi-awarded dance troupe from Mindanao State University-Institute of Technology, also highlighted the event.

The multi-awarded 5^th Avenue, the city’s bet to the hiphop competition to Melbourne, Australia, showed dancing prowess.

Meanwhile, the winner of the Miss Iligan tilt will receive cash gift and a round trip ticket to Macau, courtesy of Rep. Belmonte. (Violeta M. Gloria/MindaNews)

---

Share this story through the following Social Media sites: