A variety of activities was presented by the Butuan City Tourism Council that centers on three highlights to watch out for in this year’s Balangay Festival for the whole month of May.


Anchored the theme “Sail On Butuan: Balangayan”, the opening program was held last May 1 with the traditional early dawn Diana announcing the beginning of the festivities followed by a daily 6AM exercise called the Batyag Butuan at the Rizal Park.

Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. led the opening ceremonies at Rizal Park and the formal opening of the Trade and Carnival Fair.


This year, the Balangay Festival highlighted an art exhibit crafted by local artists which was formally launched last May 2 dubbed as the Panagtagbo Art Festival with almost 40 sculptures and paintings displayed at the lobby of the Butuan National Museum.


The traditional highlight was the Mutya hong Butuan Pageant Night on May 17 at the FSUU Gym showcasing 10 gorgeous, intelligent and equally talented ladies vying for the contest crown.


A unique feature of the 2011 Balangay Festival are the 2,000 people who will do a synchronized Manobo Dance at the City Sports Complex on the day of the fiesta, May 19 to the tune of a Butuanon song.


On fiesta day, visitors and the people of Butuan will also witness a Balangay Theater Float Parade Competition traversing Montilla Boulevard to the Libertad Sports Complex and stopping at the DBP area for a short Manobo theatrical dance presentation.


Other activities in May is the PNP Fancy Drill on May 17 at the city hall grounds after the Kaliwatan Fund Run to be participated by 86 barangays in aiming to raise funds for the One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) project.


Several entertainment showcases will be held like Sayawan sa Butuan, Kab-ot sa Bitoon singing contest, Concert at the Park during Saturdays, Down to Mars Concert on May 18, Uncle Sam’s Singing Stars on May 20 and other sports activities.


Several prominent guests are expected to arrive in Butuan which include Kenji Chua, Daisuke Hagihara, Yheen Valero, Jeongwon Song, Kiro Rivera, Jang Seung Ri, K-Pop singers of Down to Mars who will serenade Mutya hong Butuan beauties during the coronation night, Alma Moreno-Malik, President of the Councilor League of the Philippines and members of the Azkals, the Philippine National Football team.