September is a culturally charged month for Iliganons. It's time for Diyandi Festival sa Iligan, a month-long cultural celebration in honor of its patron saint, St. Michael.

One of the highlights of the celebration is the “Pagkanaug sa Imahe ni Sr. San Miguel” (the descent), which signals the start of the novena (nine days of prayer).

Diyandi, which literally translates to "celebrate," is a ritual dance performed by an all-female troupe outside the Cathedral during the “Pagpakanaug,” before every novena and before the start of the Komedya (Comedia de San Miguel). It is performed by the "Dumagats" (now Christians), the Maranaos (Muslims) and the Higaonons (lumads or natives) to jointly pay homage to St. Michael. The dance aptly describes the peaceful co-existence of Iligan’s tri-people.



The "Diyandi" had been passed from generations to generations and became a part of this city's cultural heritage.






More photos HERE.

For more updates about Diyandi Festival 2015, check out Diyandi Monitor.