This year’s Higalaay Festival in Cagayan de Oro City was a substantial success in all major fronts, results of a post festival assessment meeting hosted by the City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (CTCAO) on Wednesday (Sept. 17) showed.

 

Led by Acting (CTCAO) department manager Marky Jalapadan, the post festival assessment meeting drew representatives from City Hall departments, core festival events committees, partner agencies such as the Department of Tourism (DOT-10), event organizers and other stakeholders.

 

Among those in attendance were 2025 Higalaay Festival Committee co-chairpersons Sheila Lumbatan and City Councilor Joyleen Mercedes Balaba. Lumbatan is the chief of staff of the City Mayor’s Office while Balaba chairs the tourism committee of the 21st City Council.

 

Also present were City Councilor Roberto Cabaring and Dr. Ernesto B. Villegas of the City Planning and Development Office who facilitated the assessment.

 

The assessment highlighted some of the festival's successes, including the promotion of tourism, entertainment value, economic contribution, community engagement, showcase of local talent and culture, and media and social media exposure.

 

In closing, Lumbatan thanked the CTCAO as the Higalaay Festival secretariat and all stakeholders such as the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office, Task Force Oro-4th Infantry Division, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (CDRRMD), Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA), City Public Services Office, and City Hall offices, for their contributions to the festival's success.

 

Lumbatan said post festival assessment tool will help City Hall under Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy’s administration in improving future Higalaay Festival activities. (AGP/Photos by Iren Fuentes/CIO)