In Focus: NPC Nature’s Park

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NPC Nature's Park - Agus 6 & 7 Complex
"Where you experience leisure with nature"

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NPC Nature’s Park is located within an eight-hectare area inside the Agus 6 & 7 Hydroelectric Power Plant Complex in Fuentes, Maria Cristina. The first such facility of NPC in the Mindanao region. The NPC Nature's Park is envisioned to have a wide variety of attractions.

In Focus: Diyandi Festival sa Iligan

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DIYANDI is a ritual performed by an all-female group outside the Cathedral during the Pagpakanaug, before every novena and before the start of the Komedya, or Comedia de San Miguel, a folk stage play depicting the celestial battle. The ritual depicts the courtship between a Maranao male and Higaonon female, and culminating into an offering symbolic of their union and bountiful harvest to St. Michael the Archangel. The ritual aptly describes the peaceful co-existence of Iligan’s tri-people – Maranaos, Higaonons and Christians.

Other curious dance-forms, also performed during the San Miguel Fiesta, include the Eskrima (a dance simulating a fight between San Miguel and his enemies, and the Yawa-yawa, literally, devil-devil), a dance from depicting the celestial battle between the forces of good and evil as impersonated by St. Michael, the Archangel and Lucifer.

Sometime in 1986, it was somehow felt by the local fiesta committee that there was a need to further popularize the folk-dance forms of the Iliganon. Thus was an idea born: the concept of a street dancing festival that will not only preserve certain traditional art forms but promote them as well. In an age when culture and tradition are battered by the incursions of modernity, the significance of such undertaking as a completion of traditional art forms cannot be belittled.

Now called the KASADYA (street dancing and merrymaking), which showcases these rich and varied cultural traditions. Highlighted by the traditional Diyandi, Eskrima and the street drama. KASADYA that was started, as a local form of entertainment has become a major tourist attraction of Iligan drawing crowds to about 50,000 people both local and tourist alike. It is considered as a non-income generating project having the most number of spectators both in the streets and in the showdown venue proper as compared to other tourism related activities.


           

           

           


It is to be noted that the San Miguel Fiesta focused on KASADYA was acclaimed by the BBC Holidays (a monthly consumer magazine published in the United Kingdom and the only publication officially endorsed by the prestigious British Broadcasting Corporation) as a tourist destination. It cited the tribal pageantry mixed with Christian piety famous with brightly costumed participants miming a fight with unseen adversaries to cries of "Viva Senior San Miguel". Other participants, dressed as warrior angels, march solemnly. It added that it is very unique because of the miracle play called the Yawa-yawa, performed in vernacular dialogue and depicting Lucifer's unsuccessful revolt against God and the good angels. Other national and local publications also cited KASADYA as a tourist attraction in Iligan.




The feast of St. Michael the Archangel every 29th of September is a grand celebration in Iligan. In fact, it has transformed into a month-long festival, the DIYANDI FESTIVAL SA ILIGAN.

 

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Pagpakanaug

Held every 20th of September at exactly 8:00 in the morning. The lowering of the Patron Saint from the center altar to the side altar for his bath and change of clothes and signaling the start of the nine-day novena, is a sight to behold and a tradition unparalleled. Although conducted inside the Cathedral, it is spearheaded by devotees and participated by local government officials whereby the City Mayor receives the Patron Saint's helmet, the Congressman receives the spear and the Chief of Police, San Miguel's shield. All this occurs with a ritual and a specific count amidst thunderous chants of VIVA SEÑOR SAN MIGUEL!

Daily Diana or Pamukaw

Starting Pagpakanaug Day to the day before the Fiesta, the Iligan City Government Band goes around the city at dawn to wake people up so they can prepare for the day's activities.

 

 

Kasadya Street Dancing and Merry Making VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

This is an event held every September 27, with participating contigents from and outside Iligan. Performers parade through the city from the port area to end up at the Anahaw Amphitheater at the foot of City Hall where they perform in a final showdown in front of judges. Big prizes are always at stake.

The Diyandi Festival Sa Iligan 2010 featuring the winning entry - The San Lorenzo Elementary School, Malabagan, Lanao del Sur. This is an unedited video filmed by Ruth Violanda using Fujifilm Finepix S1500 digital camera.

		Fiesta Procession VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

September 29 -The procession attended by throngs of devotees in all assortment of costumes and mascara dance, prance and shout in mock battle celebrating the confrontation of Señor San Miguel and Lucifer. Every now and then, during the procession, devotees shout fiercely "Viva Señor San Miguel!"

The procession stretched for approximately two kilometers. It started and ended at the St. Michael's Cathedral, with a route that took the devotees around the city through old streets, main thoroughfares, and two public markets.

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All images appeared on this page were taken during the previous Diyandi Festival sa Iligan Celebrations by yours truly.

Diyandi Festival 2010 - ‘Wara-wara sa Iligan! Tara na!’

Diyandi Festival 2009 -  'Tuyhakaw Iligan, Cge Go!'

Watch out for Diyandi Festival sa Iligan 2011!

In Focus: Maze Parks & Resort

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Etched from the lush and gently rolling mountains overlooking Iligan Bay, is a seven hectare resort that provides a unique blend of relaxation and fun.

With facilities for the sports minded and the adventurous, Maze Parks and Resort is a haven for those who want to spend quality time alone, or in the company of family and friends.

Bathed in glorious sunlight and cooled by mountain breeze, man finds idyllic comfort in nature’s bosom amidst a collection of colorful birds, exotic flora and shady fruit trees.

In Focus: Rizal Park

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A People's Park.

The old Iligan public plaza was a landmark that would have been Iligan's premier historical relic today had it not been demolished in 1965 to give way to a more contemporary scheme of park structure.

 


The plaza, nestled in the heart of the city, was second home to many of us in as many activities conceivable. It was a people's park through and through. Pretty much like a minuscule version of London's Hyde Park, the plaza played host to a thousand and one other forms of leisure for city residents. It was the most popular haven for early morning strollers and Sunday promenaders, a lucrative marketplace for itinerant peddlers and hawkers, and the most affordable destination for lovers' rendezvous. Its vastness offered free air space for us to fly our home-made kites. The benches under the mango and mabolo trees were also the regular venues for family gatherings on moonlit nights. The concrete lamp posts in the park provided kids like us a convenient station for games of catch-and-go. One could never lay claim to being an initiated plaza regular if he had not experienced the "electrifying shock" of his life derived from touching a short-circuited lamp post while at play.

Explore Iligan’s History

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The maturity of Iligan is slow and deliberate. In its 61 years of cityhood, the city stood witness to the unfolding of history. Iligan was an all-knowing and silent observer to many historic events.

During Spanish Times
• Iligan History(1) - by Ricardo Jorge S. Caluen
• Iligan History(2) - by Assemblyman Camilo P. Cabili
• Iligan History(3) - as published in the Symbols of the State(Republic of the Philippines).

During American Period
Iligan During the American Period By Prof. Patrocenia T. Acut

During the Japanese Period
Japanese Occupation in Iligan City By Prof. Leonor Buhion Enderes

Modern Times
Iligan: A History of the Phenominal Growth of an Industrial City By Prof. Geoffrey G. Salgado

This page will give the world a glimpse of a city fully-made. A city that rode time and history well; a city that has learned so much in its silence; a city who is ready for the future.

Plan of Iligan. 1898. SHM On Mindanao, the southernmost island in the archipelago, the Spaniards only managed to control some points along the coast. In Iligan, to the north, a fortress was built in the first third of the 17th century, and the town grew up around this.

 

 

 

Waterfalls Paradise – Beautiful Cascading Waters

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LIMUNSUDAN FALLS – 35 kilometers away from the city proper. It is a breathtaking two-tiered falls. The lower cascade alone is higher than the 320 feet Maria Cristina Falls. It has a total height of 870 feet. It is close to the eastern boundaries of Iligan, Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur. To reach the waterfalls, one has to trek for 2 days from Kalamalamahan, Barangay Rogongon, Iligan City. (Photo by Rene Pernia)

Waterfalls Paradise – Mimbalot Falls

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A not so high and mighty falls with a drop of approximately 90 feet high and is 18 feet wide, but very alluring with its naturally limpid water. It is a site to behold and provides an enjoyable swimming spot, 11 kms from the city proper.

Waterfalls Paradise – Tinago Falls

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Tinago Falls is one of the most beautiful falls in the country.  “Tinago” is a Filipino term which means hidden.  As the name implies, it is indeed hidden by nature in a deep ravine covered by trees and other wild vegetation.  Trekking to the falls requires approximately 500 descending steps called the winding staircase.

The falls is approximately 420 feet high, its very cold waters cascading beautifully into a deep and calm basin-like pool which appears like a blue-colored lagoon. Under the falls is a small cave where people can enter and listen to the rumbling waters. It is located in Barangay Ditucalan, 13 kilometers from the city center. It is truly a majestic place that resounds an atmosphere of serenity, a perfect escape from the noisy metropolitan.

Waterfalls Paradise – Maria Cristina Falls

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Iligan brands itself as the City of Majestic Waterfalls.  So far, there are about 23 documented waterfalls within its area of jurisdiction.

At the top of the list is Maria Cristina Falls.


Iligan's greatest heritage. The most resplendent among the 20 plus waterfalls. Also known as the "Mother of Industry" and "Fountainhead of Progress". It is 320 ft. high, spews 130 cubic meters per second of water and the veritable source of power in the city and majority of mindanao. Located 9.3 kms. away from the city proper. Since its water is being harnessed for electric power, full grandeur viewing of the waterfalls is every Saturdays and Sundays at 11 in the morning.

My Home, My Place, My City

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Chroniclers say that centuries ago, long before Legaspi’s expedition reached the Philippines in 1565, the Tala-andigs and the Banwahons, two of known peace-loving Higa-onon tribes of Mindanao, had to build an ilijan or iliyan, meaning a “fortress of defense” on the coastal plain to secure them from the frequent attacks of pirates and savage tribes. Hence the place came to be called as ILIGAN.

Iligan City is bounded by the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, by the two provinces of Lanao, and by Cagayan de Oro. It has a type C climate characterized by short, low sun dry season for one to three months. Rainfalls are evenly distributed throughout the year. It is located outside the typhoon belt.

Iligan’s topography is such that 65% of the area is mountainous; 30% nearly levelto moderately sloping and only 4% is level. Its coastal plains has a maximum expanse of only 3 square kilometers. The mountains running parallel with the coastal plains are not very high and do vary in size.