Pista sa Iligan 2012

September is a much-awaited month for us, Iliganons. Yes! We do celebrate the festival for a month. From September 1 to September 30 each day has its share of making Iliganons and tourists feel welcome and experience the beauty and bounty the city can offer.

I guess this month-long celebration started during Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz term. And I was so overwhelmed with the fiesta activities that laid ahead. Clearly it amuses each and every one in the city. Many would come and drop by the city to witness various activities.

To tell you honestly, though I am a pure Iliganon I have never really witnessed Kasadya Streetdancing Competition every 27th of September. Oh! Poor me. It is because I have to stay at home and help my family prepare for our barangay's fiesta. Yes, every September 27 Scions Subd. homeowners prepare and invite you to join as we celebrate Sr. San Miguel's feast. This is probably people won't be caught in the middle as to celebrate fiesta in Scions or at the city proper (most people who celebrate the City Fiesta are those living in the city proper).

Here are some of the food we prepared during the Sept27-fiesta. yummy! =p~

Oh well! So much for this topic. It was a blast, really. Relatives both from my parents' side came over. It's been ages! Lol. Not to mention we all live in just one city, a small city. Life gets busy. 

I can say, we had our share of giving back glory to God and San Miguel for the blessings for the past years and especially this year. We had so much to thank for. Thank you, Lord!

Let's go back to the main event, Diyandi Festival. "The word Diyandi is not new to folks in Iligan. It was used to refer to the celebration of the patron saint, Saint Michael the Archangel. Diyandi simply means celebrate.Mag-diyandi means, to celebrate. Thus, the word Diyandi gives the perfect trademark to Iligan's extended celebration of traditions and culture. And, the Diyandi Festival was born!"

It is my first time this year since the last time I joined the procession. That was years ago then. I remember my father would carry me on his shoulders with my mom and my younger brother as we joined the crowd during the procession which happens every afternoon of September 29. But this time, the church decided to do it every after the first morning mass, 7am. This is also for the people's safety because pretty sure many will get drunk and would rage which will defeat the purpose of a peaceful procession.

It was goosebumps. After seeing the patron saint was being held outside. It was an extraordinary feeling for me, as a believer. Tears came running and I could not fight my tears from falling. It was the same when Sr. San Miguel was held down or commonly known as "Pagkanaog Ni San Miguel" which happens every September 20, 9 days before the City Fiesta and an indication of Novena for San Miguel which happened to be my mother's death anniversary also.

Facade of Iligan Cathedral

Now, it gives me a strong conviction I have to attend Pagkanaog ni San Miguel every year as I also pray for my mother's peaceful and eternal life as she lives in heaven now with San Miguel together with all the saints and angels in heaven. I will definitely do this for as long as I am here in Iligan.

Really, this is one amazing experience you should also experience.
Come and visit Iligan!

Feel the warmth of the Iliganons, see it in your eyes the majestic Ma. Cristina Falls, green scenery that devours you upon entering the vicinity of Tinago Falls and other brilliant and amazing stories only in Iligan and taste the mouth-watering dishes we offer. They say Iligan's lechon is among the best lechon in the country. Feel free to visit Iligan, not just on City Fiesta. Everyday we welcome you!

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I L I G A N

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Iligan City is bounded on the north by the 3 municipalities of Misamis Oriental (namely Lugait, Manticao and Opol), to the south by the 3 municipalities of Lanao del Norte (Baloi, Linamon and Tagoloan) and the 2 municipalities of Lanao del Sur (Kapai and Tagoloan II), to the northeast by Cagayan de Oro City, to the east by the municipality of Talakag, Bukidnon; and to the west by Iligan Bay. This is also the 2nd largest city in Northern Mindanao next to Malaybalay City, capital of Bukidnon Province.
Known as the City of Majestic Waterfalls, there are around 23 waterfalls in and around Iligan. Among them is the Maria Cristina Falls, home of Mindanao's primary hydroelectric power station, and Limunsudan Falls.

Iligan is also the Industrial Center of the South. It produces hydroelectric power for the Mindanao region through the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR), the site of the Mindanao Regional Center (MRC) housing Agus IV, VI and VII hydroelectric plants. It also houses industries like steel, tinplate, cement and flourmills. The National Steel Corporation, one of the largest steel manufacturers in the Southeast Asian region, now Global Steelworks International Incorporated was re-opened in 2003 after heavy setbacks resulting to its closure in 1999. Iligan along with its neighboring city, Cagayan de Oro City, are the two major components for the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor, the fastest developing area in Northern Mindanao.
To the west, Iligan Bay provides ferry and container ship transportation. East of the city, flat cultivated coastal land gives way to steep volcanic hills and mountains providing the waterfalls and cold springs for which the area is well known.
 

Iligan is nestled in the midst of luxuriant natural beauty of Northern Mindanao. It is a city truly blessed and nurtured by Mother Nature. It is protected from typhoons by natural barriers; its terrain is hugged by a long stretch of shoreline along the Iligan Bay.

Its mountains and lush forests hide numerous waterfalls in its embrace, earning for itself the title “City of Waterfalls.” The most famous and awesome of these is the Maria Cristina Falls along the Agus River. Agus and Maria Cristina are sources of hydro electric power for most of Mindanao’s requirements. Spring like Timoga and Taytay are sources of cool and pristine water for swimming resorts that provide relief from summer heat. The coastline as well offers beaches and picnic grounds.

The Iligan Diyandi Festival is the official title for the city's month long cultural celebration. It concludes with the feast day of Saint Michael the Archangel on  September 29. The festival was established to promote Iligan's cultural identity.

With all the natural wonders and blessing bestowed upon the city, the most prized asset of Iligan is still the warm and vibrant hospitality of its people. Both natives and people of different ethnicity all come together to make Iligan their home.

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