This colorful and joyous festival of abundance and prosperity, stems from the city’s Manobo and Higaonon roots, their culture and traditions through rituals and street dancing. Kaliga is a thanksgiving celebration of the Higaonon, meaning “to thank god” for all the blessings, bountiful harvest, successful hunting, expedition, installation of new chieftain, birth of a child and any recoveries from hardship and sickness.
The whole celebration usually lasts two to three days. However, the traditional kaligan will last five to seven days.
The Main Parts
Panawagan – An opening prayer. It will be recited or in a song (limbay)
Dasang – A fast chanting. It will start with adoration to God Almighty, God the Father “Amay Day” followed by reciting of the history of the famous people, heroes and the dwelling place.
Offering of Symbols – a bonfire or lighting of torch.
Different dancesInamo dance – the body moves like a clever monkey. It is a graceful dance around a banana tree. This is usually danced by the elders and chieftains (body bent moves like a monkey, hands down with tipped toes)
Binanog Dance – a whirling dance. The movement is like a mighty eagle. Flying up in a cloudless sky usually danced by the brave warriors and newly installed chieftain.
Clever Mother Hen – a dance of a mother hen who is always ready to protect her chicks from an eating eagle and other cruel animals usually
danced by the baes – a female leader. With 8-10 young ladies and men.
Inuwang dance – shrimps hunters and shrimps. Ladies will move like a shrimp swimming and jumping to escape from hunters. Men will swim and hunt. They move jumping and jumping from the stone to another stone in the river.
Planting and harvest dance – harvest of corns, coffee, root crops and banana.
Magical dance – to communicate to the super natural beings. A dance to drive evil spirits. Accompanied by drums, gongs, woods and bamboos.
The Kaliga Festival is celebrated to mark the city charter anniversary. Activities during the celebration are street dancing, trade fairs, a civic military parade, and an awarding ceremony for achievers.
How to get to Kaliga Festival
Gingoog is best reached through Cagayan de Oro City. Cagayan de Oro is accesible from Cebu and Manila by air. Upon landing on Cagayan de Oro, you can travel to Gingoog by land.
If starting within Mindanao, land travel can easily take you to Gingoog city.
Hope you enjoy watching and seeing these beautiful dances that has an impact to our everyday life's journey.
Long live Gingoognon. Happy Charter Day!