NALIGAYAN FESTIVAL

Naligayan Festival is a celebration on the 2nd week of

June in Agusan del Norte. It features tribal shows and exhibitions.

 The highlight of the event is to climb to the top of the waterfalls.

It will be held at Naliyagan Plaza, a space inside the

Government Center designated as the place for official

 celebration in the province as well as the venue for

 official programs. Here, all the indigenous natives

 of the entire river valley of Agusan del Sur converge

 to display their dances, songs, products both agricultural

 and cottage industries, novelties intricately handmade

 displaying their glorious past of the natives.

Usually celebrated for a week and starts with the celebration of

the Philippine Independence Day anniversary every June 12th,

the Naliyagan Festivals opens with a manobo high priest called

 “baylan” will call on the spirits of the forest to spare the day

 for the celebration and drive away the evil spirits that might

harm the grand celebration. Then a pig is butchered and its

 blood offered by the baylan to appease the spirits so they may

not harm the mortals celebrating. Offerings of tobacco, eggs,

 white chicken, gin, candles and beetle nut fruit and leaves as

“mama”, a concoction usually chewed by the natives.

On the other hand, the Christians present will also

have their own holy mass celebration as

 thanksgiving for the blessings enjoyed for the

 year and in the years to come.

After all the spiritual invocations, follow the rising of the

 colors both national, provincial, municipal and barangays.

 Each barangay numbering 318 all in all has its own barangay

flag and is raised at its assigned flag pole within the

Naliyagan plaza. After which is the release of the giant

 balloon and 3218 small balloons representing the many

 high aspirations hopes and dreams of the Agusanons for

 its total development entrusted in the hands of their leaders.

 Adding color to the raising of colors and balloons is the

ethnic choral ensemble rendering the official song of the

 nation, the province and the doxology.

Highlight of the Opening Day celebration is the tribal

agro-industrial fair where all indigenous cottage industry

products and agricultural products are displayed for sale to

 the general public. The fair lasts until the end of the

Naliyagan Festival which is June 17, the founding anniversary

 of the province. The second day of the celebration are

conducted the different contest like essay-writing, cock

derby, native games like spear throwing, boat rowing

 contest, boxing, and other sports competitions.

The third day is a continuation of the second day.

The fourth day is highlighted with the talent competition

among candidates vying for the title, Bae Naliyagan which

is the most prestigious beauty pageant in the province.

The talent competition is part of the search for miss

Agusan del Sur dubbed as Bae Naliyagan.

The 5th day is the pageant proper usually held at the San

Francisco Gymnasium. The pageant is the Search for Bae

 Naliyagan or Miss Agusan Del Sur. Here, 14 lovely

beauties from the 14 municipalities of the province

 compete each other in the beauty and talent to vie for

the prestigious title that brings with it a cash prize

 and the privilege of becoming the ambassadress

 of the goodwill 0of the province.

The 6th day falls the foundation anniversary of the

 province and the culmination day of the celebration.

 Highlight of the day is the Drum and Bugle

competition, the ethnic street dancing contest

 where each indigenous tribe in the province

 will show-off their ethnic dances first along

 the street of Government Center then finally

 the tribal theater where each competing team

will present a choreograph dance depicting some

cultural practices of the past which lead them

to the present times. It is also the day that

dignitaries is invited to grace the occasion

are made to deliver their speeches to the delight

 of the natives present as this is their only

 chance to view in person dignitaries they often

 times could see only in their television sets

 and news papers.

Before the day ends, awarding of prizes to the

different contest are to be given then follows

the lowering of the colors then a thanksgiving

mass is again held in gratitude to a successful

celebration.