Dateline Iligan. ILIGAN HOLDS LIVELIEST DIYANDI FESTIVAL EVER

City Officials marching during the civic-miliary parade: (Left to Right foreground) Acting Mayor Ruderic Marzo, Congressman Vicente F.  Belmonte, Jr., Acting Vice-Mayor Providencio Abragan, Jr. and Councilor Bayani Areola with unidentified soldiers of the 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion

ILIGAN CITY - What observers called the liveliest and most peaceful celebration of Diyandi Festival here culminated last Tuesday, September 29, the feast of St. Michael, the Archangel. 

Over 200 events were held in different venues all over the City. 

Executive Committee Chairman Agnes Clerigo-Maingat extended her wholehearted thanks and gratitude to all event organizers and everyone who cooperated to make the month-long celebration an overwhelming success. 

It may be recalled that her marching order from Acting Mayor Ruderic C. Marzo was to make Diyandi lively. 

Above all, Marzo also thanked everyone especially the peacemakers who were too numerous to mention in maintaining peace and order throughout the celebration. 

Observers saw the police, military, NBI, Salaam Police, Barangay Tanods and all including civilians who volunteered in watching that no spoilers can disturb the merriment all over the City. 

In the closing program on September 28 at the City Plaza after the Civic Military parade that was observed to be the most participate and longest in recent Iligan history, Congressman Vicente F. Belmonte, Jr. praised the unity that the people have demonstrated thoughout the celebration that he said was successful because it was all for the honor of the Patron St. Michael, the Archangel. 

The procession held after the mass at the St. Michael’s Cathedral was also one of, if not, the most participated in years. 

Many devotees made different offerings like the Exkrima and Diyandi dancing. 

As of press time, some events were still ongoing and would end in the first week of October when the image of the Patron St. will be returned to its pedestal inside the Cathedral. 

The New Ranao Star