The “Festival of Many Causes” has ended its five-day festivities highlighted with the opening of two important infrastructures that will ease government service and boost tourism activities in Sagay City.
On the 28th year of Sinigayan Festival, the city government opened the 1,500-seater Sagay City Gymnasium and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance Center, the only clearance center outside Bacolod City.
This opening added to the line-up of activities which included the operation of the four festival sites namely “Dagway Sagay Arts Village”, “Taliambong Food and Entertainment Village”, “Bugay Sagay Agro-Aqua Village”, and the “Sagay Livestock Village”, a press release from Sagay City said Monday, March 25.
During the festivities, Manila-based bands “Cup of Joe” performed at the opening night on March 15, while “Orange and Lemons” and “This Band” on the last day during the “Sinigayan Music Fest”.
NBI Director Medardo De Lemos also attended the festival as the guest speaker together with various regional and national officials from the agency.
De Lemos said that with the opening of the clearance center, he also aims to create another NBI District in the province to save a lot of trouble and expense going to Bacolod for those who seek NBI clearance.
Meanwhile, Cluster 2 composed of Barangays Bato, Sewahon, Taba-ao, Plaridel and Lopez Jaena was the overall champion of “Sinigay sa Sagay Saot Para sa Dunang Manggad” Street and Arena Dance Competition.
During the street and arena dance competition, the cluster was also given special awards including Best in Streetdancing Costume, Best Saot sa Dunang Manggad, Best in Endurance, Best Choreographer, Best Designer, Best Visual Artist, Best in Props, and Best Recycled/Upcycled Accessories.
Cluster 3 composed of Barangays Poblacion 1, Bulanon, Vito, Rafaela Barrera, and Maquiling was declared 1st runner-up, and Cluster 1 composed of Barangays Old Sagay, Malubon, General Luna, Rizal, and Himoga-an Baybay was 2nd runner-up.
Cluster 3 was also won the Best in Merry Making award.
Dan Gabriel Cuenco and Gwen Chrisbell Velado were also declared as the Sinigaya Sa Sagay Hari and Hara, respectively.
The Sinigayan Festival’s theme this year was “A Celebration of Joy and Thanksgiving” to highlight the triumphs that the city has achieved over the years.
Mayor Narciso Javelosa, Jr. said that as he looks back to 1996 when the festival started, there have been a lot of changes that makes Sagay a dynamic city.*