By Tito Mike
Cagayan de Oro City began its annual festival of Christmas Festivities on December 1st with various competitions in the poblacion.
The festivities kicked off at 1:30PM with the Paskorela competition of Christmas-themed motorelas and Marching Band Competition.
Six community bands and six motorelas dressed in holiday-themed decorations paraded around the old city quarter.
Joining this year’s ‘Marching Band Competition’ were the Oro Marching Arts Guild, Silverianz DBC, Pilgrim Christian College, and the community bands of Barangays Lumbia, Bayanga and Patag.
The parade started at the Rodelsa Circle and ended at the City Hall Mini-Park where City Mayor Rolando “Klarex” Uy delivered his Christmas message to the Kagay-anons.
Oro Marching Arts Guild won first place and received a cash prize of P50,000. Second place went to Pilgrim Christian College (P30,000 cash prize) and third place to Barangay Bayanga (P20,000 cash prize.)
Special Awards also went to Barangay Bayanga as the Most Lively Group, Oro Marching Arts Guild as the Most Disciplined Group and Best Band Majorette, and Pilgrim Christian College for Best in Musicality and Best Band Master.
Winners of the Paskorela competition will be announced on December 14.
Meanwhile, the City Information Office announced that per advice of the City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office, the ceremonial lighting for the Festival of Lights at City Hall, Gaston Park and Ysalina Bridge originally scheduled for 5:00PM Thursday, was cancelled due to “some unavoidable technical glitches.” (with a report from JAS/CIO)
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