SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews / 8 Sept) – All systems go for this city’s Bonok-Bonok Marajaw Karajaw Festival, which will kick off Monday.
Roselyn Merlin, senior tourism officer of Surigao City, said that traffic enforcers, the police and the military are all ready to secure a peaceful and orderly event.
Supt. Joseph Rocolcol Nohara, city police chief, said they have additional 200 police personnel who will be deployed in key areas to do provide security and to do monitoring.
Though Surigao is one of the most peaceful cities in Mindanao, he said he will not allow any crime to mar the festive event.
Nohara advised spectators not to bring backpacks so as not to earn suspicion from law enforcers.
He added that viewers should not bring valuable items so they will not be victimized by robbers as well.
Now on its 29th year, this year’s theme is “Pasalamat! Isinggit, Isadjaw!” (Thanksgiving! Shout, Dance!)
Merlin said 13 contingents will perform on the city streets as they will also vie for the huge prizes and special awards.
She said that for the Bonok-Bonok based category, contestants include the Anomar High School, Anomar Elementary School, B. Vasquez Memorial Central Elementary School, Rafols National High School, Sabang Elementary School and Mat-i Elementary School, all from this city.
For the free interpretation category, confirmed contingents from this city are the Mabini National High School Navarro Memorial Central Elementary School, Caraga Regional Science High School, Lipata National High School, Cantiasay National High School, and Barangay Buenavista. Participants from other areas are the municipality of Talaingod in Davao del Norte and Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur.
Bonok-Bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw Festival is a thanksgiving and invocation to the Almighty through the intercession of the city’s patron saint, Señor San Nicolas de Tolentino, for bountiful blessings of peace and good health.
She said they expect to draw in local and foreign tourists during the festivities.
