Higaonon Dance Festival of Cagayan de Oro City

The Festival

The Higaonon Dance Festival, a yearly event held every August in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, is a street parade and a narrative dance competition portraying the inherent tradition of the Higaonon tribe of Mindanao. The parade starts in the morning in a route that leads to the venue of the dance showdown. Contingents dance to the beat of the musical beat and melodies played throughout the street dancing as judges are deployed in various stations along the parade route. It is a requirement that participants wear costumes nearest to the original Higaonon traditional garb of mostly red, gold, black, and white combined. Performers are judged 50% for the street dancing and the other 50% is given for the performance in the final dance showdown.
This fun event of the Higaonons aims to promote appreciation and deeper understanding of the native inhabitants of Cagayan, and to preserve the local heritage of the city.

The street parade is such exciting and exhilirating that residents patiently wait in the shadow away from the burning sun and cheer for the passing contigents.
One would mistakenly identify the Higaonon Dance as that of the Maranaos but closer observance will tell the distinct difference. City government is truly delighted to celebrate this event showcasing the rich culture and tradition of the Cagayanís natives as they look back to their roots, understanding the deeper meaning of the dance.
The Higaonon Dance Festival is one of the events of Kagay-an Festival which is held the same day of Cagayan de Oro Cityís fiesta.
Other events in the festival include the Golden Float Parade, Lambagohan, a fluvial parade in Cagayan de Oro river, Kahimunan Festival, a trade fair and exhibit of indegenous Mindanao products, and Ms. Kagay-an beauty pageant.

The Scoop

The Higaonon Tribe

Higaonon is derived from ìgaonî, which is literally meant ìthe mountain peopleî. In search for fertile     soil for planting and good harvest, these nomads travel from one mountain to another. They have     medium-built physique normally reach about 5 feet and 2 inches in height, and lighter complexion     compared to the neighboring tribes. Some even have European facial features such as sharp nose,     conspicuous cheeks, and deep-set eyes, caused by the intermarriage between the Higaonon     people and the conquistadores of Spain. They are adept in hunting and farming. Trained to defend     their land, these people possess good fighting ability which they inherit from their great ancestors.

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