Considered as Lanao del Norte’s rice granary, Kapatagan celebrates the Kahumayan Festival on the first days of December every year.
Kapatagan gives thanksgiving for its golden harvest of humay (hence the Kahumayan Festival) or rice and in honor of its Patron Saint, Saint Francis Xavier.
Its golden harvest is even more precious since it produces organically grown chemical free rice which includes the healthy and nutritious “black rice”.
The theme of the street dancing evolves around the process of producing rice and its products- from planting to harvesting to processing.
By-products of rice such as Kakanin or Filipino delicacy are also showcased during the festival when the different barangays compete with each other in producing the best kakanin.
Food and culinary festivals, concerts, quiz shows, photo exhibits and contest, Mutya ng Kapatagan, traditional sports and Laro ng Lahi are just part of the events that make up the celebration of Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte’s Kahumayan Festival.
The tourist destinations and the seafood are a different story altogether. What with eco-tourism sites such as the Malinas Caves, Cathedral Falls, Sta. Cruz Falls, Mangrove and Fish Sanctuaries and the green Kapatagan Valley, it would be a new festive and ecologically enriching experience.
So head out to Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte and join the revelry of the Kahumayan Festival!
Thanks to Jhonny Paul H. Lagura, Tourism, Investment Promotions and Disaster Risk Management Specialist of Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte and to Daryl Tolero for the photos.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Major airlines fly daily to Davao City from Manila and Cebu. It is an hour and 40 minutes away from Manila and an hour from Cebu. Airfare range from PhP4,000-9,000 (US$93-209.30). Taxi flag down rate is PhP40.
From Davao City, take the RTMI aircon bus to Cagayan de Oro (5 hours at PhP500) and from Cagayan de Oro, take the RTMI aircon bus to Kapatagan (4 hours at PhP250).
If you are coming from Cagayan de Oro, bus fare is PhP250
From Pagadian Airport, PhP 90
From Ozamiz PhP150 :)
From Iligan City, PhP125.
