Cagayan de Oro City’s celebration of its annual fiesta may be subdued, even downscaled, but it won’t be less significant nor meaningful amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Oscar Moreno said Thursday noon, July 30.

“I was reminded of the July 26 bombing in 2013 during my first three year term and I remembered being asked if the city fiesta will continue,” Mayor Moreno said in Thursday noon’s press briefing. “Even with Davao City back then declaring a downscaled celebration of its fiesta, I replied that the city fiesta will go on. This year it will continue but we won’t forget our enforcement and observance of minimum health standards.”

Cagayan de Oro City Hall will launch its Higalaay Festival this coming Monday, Aug. 3 at 5 pm. In keeping with the religious nature of the fiesta, Mayor Moreno said the highlight of this year’s celebration will be the installation of incoming Archbishop Jose Cabantan, who will replace outgoing Archbishop Antonio Ledesma on Aug. 28.

Also listed among the confirmed activities for the fiesta is the virtual staging of the Miss Cagayan de Oro pageant. “I would like to thank Mags Cue and City Hall officials for pushing through with the event (even with the health safety protocols required),” Mayor Moreno said.

“Even if she is still in the US due to travel restrictions I would also like to thank (Local Economic Investments Promotion Officer) Eileen San Juan for helping spearhead the preparations for the annual fiesta. The collective efforts of everyone concerned (to push through with the fiesta) is both heartwarming and uplifting (amid the pandemic),” Mayor Moreno said.