In the recently concluded Battle of Festivals last Monday, the municipality of Manukan bagged the 1st prize, competing with other fiteen towns that participated. Manukan, in their Sinulog Festival (Tribu ni Tino) performed the dance ritual that carried the image of Sto. Nino gathered a total cash prize of P100,000.00 and a multi-cab vehicle. It was learned that the Sinulog Festival of Manukan had been a constant winner of the yearly Sinulog Festival in Dipolog City.

On the other hand, the El Toro Festival of Polanco got the 2nd place which received a cash prize of P50,000 pesos while the Pagsalabuk Festival of Dipolog City landed 3rd place, which received P30,000 in cash. El Toro festival of Polanco performed and showed the crowd the abundant agricultural products of their municipality while the Pagsalabuk festival of Dipolog City demonstrated the Subanen way of socializing with other natives in the province of Zamboanga del Norte.

Gov. Rolando E. Yebes in his speech expressed his appreciation and gratitude to all who have joined the first festival competition that catered all the municipalities in the province. The participants howled with delight as Gov. Yebes declared to give every contingent P1 million worth of project. Massive claps and applauses were given after the declaration.

The Battle of Festivals is a showdown of the different celebrations, showcasing the different cultures, traditions, beliefs and histories of each municipality in the province. (Abante Zanorte Gazette, The Official Chronicler of Hudyaka Zanorte 2005, Vol. I No.10)(HUDYAKA ZANORTE 2005 FESTIVAL OFFICIAL WEBSITE)

To signal the official start of the celebration, a kick-off costume parade will be made on May 30, 2005. It will start at 6 o’clock in the morning at the Plaza Magsaysay and will end at the Agri-Tourism Industrial Fair area, which is located fronting the Provincial Library.

It can be noted that this eye-catching costume parade is the first of its kind since it will showcase the different customary clothes of the tribes that once inhabit the province of Zamboanga del Norte and the people who made great contributions in making the province of what it is now. On Monday, public officials and employees of the provincial government will represent these different tribes with their corresponding costumes.

Ten tribes are on the list namely: Tribe Subanen, which has Atty. Ivan Ang and Mr. Susano Lauc as chieftains, with them are the offices of the PGO & Staff, Administrator’s Office, Tourism, Personnel, Records, MISO, PMG, Remittance, Special Bodies, Radio, NCIP; Tribe Maranaw has Mr. Roney P. Pacilan and Mr. Senen Ladera as chieftains, accompanied by the office of CDAU, Hiring, Convention Center, PIC/NBN, TLDC, Guest House, Swimming Pool and Executive Band; Tribe Insik, has Mr. Orlando Patangan and Mr. Al Hamoy as chieftains  together with the offices of the Assessor’s, Treasurer, Accounting, Budget, PSWDO/PPO and PPDO/DPDKRM; Tribe Kalibungan, has Atty. Jes Gal Sarmiento and Mr. Remelo Damuag as chieftains and with them are the employees of the Attorney’s Office, PEDO, PGSG, PHO, Hospitals and Nutrition; Tribe Negrense, has Mr. Emmanuel Ladera and Atty. Valeriano Lagula as chieftains with them are the offices of PGSO, Prosecutor’s Office, Warden, Library and Red Cross; Tribe Bol-anon, which has Mr. Jaime Paler and Mr. Abellano Batocael as chieftains together with the offices of DILG, COA, DTI, Register of Deeds, PIA,WMCIP and BFAR; Tribe Tausug, has Vice Gov. Francis Olvis and BM Uldarico Mejorada as chieftains and with them are the employees of the Vice Governor’s Office and Sangguniang Panlalawigan; Tribe Bisaya, has Atty. Bernardo Concha and Mr. Vic Sanchez as chieftains with offices of OPA and PROVET; Tribe Siquijodnon, has Engr. Ramon Ochotorena and Engr. Dennis Tenorio as chieftains with employees of the PEO and lastly the Tribe Ilonggo, has Provincial Director Jufel Adriatico and DPD Virgilio Ranes together with the ZDN PNP Provincial Command. (Abante Zanorte Gazette, The Official Chronicler of Hudyaka Zanorte 2005, Vol. I No.1)