KAUSWAGAN, Lanao del Norte — The Municipality of Kauswagan came alive with color, music, and cultural pride during the annual Hugyaw sa Kadagatan Festival, showcasing its rich marine resources, environmental stewardship, and community unity.
One of the festival’s major highlights was the “Gakit” Competition, where barangay clusters presented intricately designed bamboo rafts adorned with marine-inspired elements symbolizing the town’s abundant coastal resources.
Performers danced atop the floating platforms, displaying creativity, coordination, and unity while celebrating Kauswagan’s thriving marine ecosystem.
Vice Mayor Rommel Arnado said the festival also served as a reminder of the town’s commitment to protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development.
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“Kauswagan has made significant progress over the past year. This celebration is also a call for environmental consciousness—if we take care of our natural resources, particularly our seas, we will continue to enjoy abundant harvests,” Arnado said.
He cited the town’s key initiatives, including strict enforcement against illegal fishing, expansion of marine sanctuaries, coral reef rehabilitation, and continuous mangrove planting, which serve as breeding grounds for fish and support food security.
Arnado also said Kauswagan is now a 100% organic agriculture municipality, aligned with Republic Act 11511, which promotes organic farming nationwide.
“We aim not only to preserve the environment but also to ensure food security. Alongside our rich marine harvest, we also celebrate our agricultural abundance,” he added.
Beyond environmental advocacy, the festival also highlighted peace and resilience among Kauswagan residents, reflecting the town’s transformation from conflict to a thriving and peaceful community.
“We highlighted peace this year. I personally experienced the chaos during the 2008 conflict in Kauswagan, when many of us had to flee.
Now, we celebrate the peace we achieved—it brings us great joy because we no longer live in fear,” said Vivien Anne Villanosa of Barangay Libertad.
Villanosa added that the community continues to do its part in protecting marine resources while celebrating the town’s abundance.
“It’s truly beautiful—the number of dancers and the energy brought life back to Kauswagan. This is one of the best festivals for me because it is festive, sea-themed, and attracts many visitors,” said Kian Borres of Barangay Poblacion.
The festival featured several competitions that drew strong participation from different barangay clusters, highlighting talent and community spirit.
Tacub Barangay Captain Milanie Aviles said the event reflected the unity and dedication of every barangay.
“Hugyaw sa Kadagatan is not just a celebration—it requires serious preparation. All barangays put in effort, and this reflects the leadership of our Mayor and Vice Mayor Sonia and Rommel Arnado. We are proud to be the grand champion of the sea dancing competition. Our team worked tirelessly despite exhaustion and lack of sleep. This victory is a testament to our unity and determination,” Aviles said.
Festival winners received cash prizes and trophies.
For the Festival Street Dancing and Festival Gakit competitions, Cluster 5 representing Barangay Libertad emerged as champion, winning P100,000 and P200,000, respectively, while also placing third in the Festival Sea Dancing competition with P40,000.
Cluster 1 representing Barangay Tacub was declared champion in Festival Sea Dancing with a P100,000 cash prize and placed third in the Gakit competition with P100,000.
Barangay Poblacion placed second in both the Gakit and Festival Sea Dancing competitions.
The Hugyaw sa Kadagatan Festival continues to serve as a platform for showcasing Kauswagan’s cultural heritage, environmental programs, and the unity of its people—proving that progress and preservation can go hand in hand.
