City Hall Ups Prizes For Higalaay Festival Events

By Mona Lagbas

August 7, 2025, Cagayan de Oro City_In preparation for Friday's launching of the almost month-long Higalaay Festival in honor of the city's patron, Saint Augustine, the local government unit announced an increase in cash prizes for winners in the various events.

Mark Kenneth Jalapadan, City Tourism Officer, in a press briefing Thursday, said that in the street dancing competition event, participating barangays are given a one hundred thousand peso subsidy each and that prizes have been increased substantially. From four hundred thousand last year, the grand prize is now half a million pesos, three hundred thousand for the 1st runner-up and an incremental increase in consolation prizes.

Jalapadan also said that the venue for the street dancing competition is at the Pelaez Sports Center, which is now being prepped up.

Mark Jalapadan, CdeO's Tourism Officer, briefs media practitioners Thursday.

Mr. Jalapadan also disclosed that under Mayor Rolando "Klarex" Uy's administration, the Miss Cagayan de Oro Pageant promises to be more competitive, owing to significant increases in prizes including more incentives for mentors and designers of candidates.

For the civic-military parade, Jalapadan said that incentives have also been increased to encourage contingents to festively participate.