The Provicial Government of Cagayan, along with its 28 municipalities and one city, celebrated the Aggao Nac Cagayan with a series of activities in line with the observance of the 435th founding anniversary of the civil government of the province on June 23 – June 29 2018.
This year’s festival theme highlighted the vision of Governor Manuel Mamba for the province, “Cagayan looking Northward”, capturing the local government’s goal to put the province known as a major economic, tourism and investment hub in the country, and to open opportunities for the province not only for economic purposes, but also for tourism and agriculture development.
Opening this year’s celebration was the Paddarafunan Trade Fair, and the Grand Pidal Viaje wherein at least 400 cyclists in Tuguegarao City headed their way to Sta. Ana, Cagayan with their bicycles.
Aside from the kick-off activities, local committees and organizations spearheaded various events such as Coastal Clean-up, Job Fair, Bloodletting, Mural Painting, Food fest, Hospital beautification, Bangkarera, Concerts, Shootfest, Dog Show, Talent shows, Group Taekwondo Competition, and the much-awaited annual Pabbarayle Cultural Dance Parade and Showdown.
This year’s festival also included the soft-opening of the Museo de Cagayan. This historical infrastructure is a product of the renovation of the “Tribunal de Tuguegarao”, and will be the new home for the Cagayan Provincial Museum and Historical Research Center.
On the other hand, as part of the province’s Dangal ng Lahing Cagayano search, the Cagayan Provincial Government conferred the Natatanging Cagayano award to four notable Cagayanos who have “made an impact in the national or international area”.
The receivers of the said award were Engineer Diosdado Banatao, an internationally known technopreneur in the field of computer science and engineering; Associate Justice Jose Mendoza, an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals; President Cecilia Cayosa-Borromeo of the Development Bank of the Philippines; and Grace Pullido-Tan, a former chair of the Commission on Audit and Finance undersecretary under President Benigno Aquino III’s presidency.
Also a highlight of this year’s celebration is the arrival 19 venerated Blessed Virgin Mary images to the province from the various churches in the country.
By: JAPHETH G. TOBIAS
