Republic of the PhilippinesProvince of Cebu

City of NagaOFFICE OF THE CITY MAYOR

December 22, 2011

CITY OF NAGA, CEBU - - IT’S all systems go for the 4th Festival of Lights popularly known as “Dagitab” here on December 23 (Friday), 2011.

The annual event, which formally caps the week-long nightly festivities ranging from dance showdown, live band concert to Daygon and choral competitions, will kick off with a 4 p.m. street dancing of eight Dagitab contingents.

These dancing contingents represent six national high schools – Naga, Balirong, Don Emilio Canonigo Memorial, Tuyan and Uling – and two private schools – Siena School of Naga and Professional Academy of the Philippines (PAP).

The ritual showdown will follow after a 6 p.m. dinner break at St. Francis of Assisi Park where a temporary wooden stage has been set up exclusively for Dagitab dancers.

Except for Talisay City and San Fernando town, three Local Government Units in Cebu’s first congressional district – Minglanilla, Carcar City and Sibonga, will send their own festival dance groups as guest performers.

A P25,000 cash prize awaits the grand champion of the ritual showdown while P20,000 and 15,000 will be given to the second and third winners, respectively, plus trophies.

The winning contingent on street dancing will receive P12,000, while the second and third winners will go home with P8,000 and P5,000 apiece with trophies. The Best in Costume awardee will also get P5,000 cash and a trophy. Mayor Valdemar M. Chiong, who will formally open the program in his welcome address, has invited both Rep. Eduardo R. Gullas (Cebu, 1st) and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn F. Garcia to grace the occasion.

Capping this grand pre-Christmas Day event is the simultaneous release of 100 sky lanterns and colorful display of fireworks.

The City of Naga, through the leadership of Chiong, conceptualized Dagitab to enhance its tourism program and establish Nagahanon’s sense of pride and identity of their unique history and culture.

It also showcases Naga being the home of two coal-fired power plants and several industrial firms in Cebu.

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