AGUSAN DEL SUR (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 27, 2014) – The City of Bayugan celebrated its 30th edition of the annual Kahimunan Tu Bayugan in honor of the Señor Santo Nino or the Infant Child Jesus.
The event, held on January 26, is celebrated every 4th Sunday of January, and is the local version of Cebu’s Sinulog Festival.
The word “kahimunan” is a Lumad term which means “gathering” and the festival started with a holy mass and is capped by street dancing around Bayugan. For this year, the street dancing had two categories – the Bayuganon Entry which y had 5 entries and the Open Entry which has 4 entries.
The winners for the Bayuganon Entry were – First Place: Marcelina National High School – which was also adjudged as the Best in Choreography – with 100,000 cash prize; 2nd Place: Father Saturnino Urios College of Bayugan, Inc. – also won the Best in Musicality – with 75,000 cash prize; 3rd Place was the Bayugan National Comprehensive High School which also won the Best in Street Dancing, Best in Costume, and Best in Festival Queen and 50,000 cash prize.
And for the Open Entry Category, the winners were 1st Place: Kulturang Bayuganon Folkloric Group – also won the Best in Choreography, Best in Street Dancing, and Best in Festival Queen and 300,000 cash prize; 2nd Place: Santa Irene National High School-Prosperidad which also won the Best in Musicality and Best in Costume and P200,000 in cash; and the 3rd Place went to Agusan National High School-Butuan City which also received P100,000 cash prize.
Kahimunan Tu Bayugan was sponsored by the City Government led by Mayor Kim Lope Asis and City Tourism Office headed by Councilor Kirk Asis and Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Church. (Alvin Añonuevo)
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