Hello Read.cash members my topic for today is all about Philippine festival particularly, Dayandi Festival of Iligan City. Folk-lore depicts Iligan's patron saint, St. Michael the Archangel as the Protector of Peace.

During the 70's at the height of the secessionist hostilities in Mindanao, people believed that Iligan remained untouched and safe from rebel attacks because of the Miracles of St. Michael.

One evening, when a hostile group was poised to attack Iligan City, the rebels retreated because they could not find the city as it was transformed into a lake. Another story told is that the Patron Saint makes his rounds in the evening as evidenced by Amorseko grass on his clothes and muddy boots.

These are just a few of the many stories about St. Michael. Even the story of his installation as patron saint of Iligan continues to inspire and endear him to each and every Iliganon.

Thus, his feast every 29th of September, is a grand celebration of Iligan. In fact, it has transformed into a month-long festival, the DIYANDI FESTIVAL SA ILIGAN.

Diyandi

Is a ritual performed by an all-female group outside the Cathedral during the Pakanaug, before every novena and before the start of the Komedya, or Comedia de San Miguel, a folk stage play depicting the celestial battle. The ritual depicts the courtship between Maranao male and Higaunon female, and culminating into an offering symbolic of their union and bountiful harvest to St. Michael the Archangel.

The ritual aptly describes the peaceful co-existence of Iligan s tri-people-maranaos, higaonons and Christians.

*Thank you for reading*.