By ERWIN MASCARIÑAS
Correspondent
OFFICIALS and organizers of this year’s week-long Kahimunan Festival are busy with preparations for a major street dancing competition in Butuan City on Sunday.
The grand Kahimunan Festival Street Dancing competition would highlight the week-long celebration. It would be participated by 10 groups from different parts of northeastern Mindanao.
Authorities have been to stepping up security measures in Butuan since the start of the annual celebration in time for the feast of the Sto. Niño. Officials and organizers expect the festival crowd until Jan. 19 to reach 400,000.
The Kahimunan Festival kicked off with the Children Kahimunan Street Dancing competition Friday afternoon.
“It is significant that we start the festivities with the performance of the children because the religious celebration is about the child Jesus. It reminds us to remain small as a child, so that people could always witness the greatness of God. To remain small, we have to remain humble,” said Msgr. Roel Lasco of the Sto Niño Diocesan Shrine in Barangay Libertad, Butuan.
Five groups from different elementary schools and barangays in Butuan competed at the Sto Niño Diocesan Shrine.
The Baan Riverside Elementary School emerged as the over-all champion while the Libertad Central Elementary School took the 1st prize. The Butuan City Special Education Center bagged the 2nd Prize.
Doongan Integrated School and Barangay Doongan, both took the consolation prizes. The best choreographer award went to Kenneth Wilson Brosula of the Baan Riverside Elementary School.
Best in musicality was the Libertad Central Elementary School; best in costume went to Baan Riverside Elementary School; festival queen was awarded to Butuan City Sped Center, and best in street dancing award went to Baan Riverside Elementary School.
