Cagayan de Oro celebrates its annual fiesta celebration every August 28, in honor of its patron Saint Augustine of Hippo. Called the City of Golden Friendship, its annual festival is aptly called Higalaay.

There have been many iterations of the festival until the city adopted Higalaay, a Bisaya word that means friendship. The festival celebrates the local indigenous people, the Higao-onon.

Higalaay celebrates the friendship between the Higa-onon and the Meranaw of Lanao del Sur. It is also the celebration of the friendship this city has cultivated over centuries, a reflection of the warm and hospitable nature of its residents.

Higalaay is also a vital platform to promote the city as a tourist and investment destination, featuring activities like an agri-fair and garden show, and showcasing local artistry and culture. 

Now, with more than 700 thousand residents, Cagayan de Oro is the capital of the Northern Mindanao Region. This city is the business, commercial, medical, educational, and communication center of the region. Northern Mindanao Region is Mindanao’s second-largest economy, with Cagayan de Oro City providing almost half of that income.

The street dancing takes place along Apolinar Velez Street- from the Rodelsa Circle, and ends with a tableau performance at the Misamis Oriental Sports Complex.

(Text and photos by Bobby Lagsa)