PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur – This Caraga province is girding for its weeklong Naliyagan Festival, which will showcase its agricultural products, among other activities, at the 80-hectare provincial capitol grounds here.
“All’s set for the festival of all festivals, the Naliyagan, and everybody is invited,” said this year’s festival executive committee headed by former Agusan del Sur governor Valentina Galido Plaza as honorary chairwoman.
“Naliyagan” is a Manobo term which means “smitten” by nature’s bounty.
The festival is part of the founding anniversary celebration of the province. Among its highlights are an investment forum and an indigenous people’s summit.
The twin provinces of Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte were separated on June 17, 1957 after then lone Agusan congressman Jose Aquino Sr. filed Republic Act 714 dividing the lone Agusan province into two.
Today the twin provinces are bustling with tourism and business potentials.