Emerging after two years of restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this once war-torn coastal town of Lanao del Norte province opened its doors to visitors again as it showcased its organic farm and fishery goods to people joining its 74th founding day revelries. Mayor Rommel Arnado welcomed the public to the town’s 21st Hugyaw sa Kadagatan Festival on Sunday, a day before the town’s 74th Charter Day, which also coincides with the town’s fiesta celebration in honor of San Vicente Ferrer, its patron saint. Hugyaw sa Kadagatan, which features participants dancing on top of flower-decked bamboo rafts drawn to sea by two motorboats, used to be the province’s prime tourism attraction until 2020, when the pandemic suspended all crowd-drawing events in the country and put all celebrations here to a halt.

Umel, R. (2022, April 26). Lanao del Norte coastal town reopens doors to tourists. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A5.