A colorfully decorated raft is featured in the Hugyaw sa Kadagatan Festival in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte in observance of its 75th founding anniversary. (Photo by RICHEL V. UMEL / Inquirer Mindanao)
KAUSWAGAN, Lanao del Norte, Philippines — The once war-torn town of Kauswagan in Lanao del Norte observed its 75th founding anniversary and the Feast of San Vicente Ferrer on Monday, April 24, by celebrating cultural diversity and marine bounty.
A day before, the municipal government held the “Hugyaw sa Kadagatan” Festival, which pays homage to the bountiful harvest from the sea, providing residents with a cheap source of food.
Among eight contingents for the raft and “sea dancing” contests, the entries of Barangay Libertad emerged as the grand champion, receiving a total of P300,000 in cash prizes.
Mayor Rommel Arnado also paid tribute to the bountiful production of the town’s farms tended through organic agriculture methods which has been vigorously advocated by the local government.
Arnado hoped that through the people’s fervent prayers and faith in each other, they would be able to sustain the town’s economic progress and maintain peace and harmonious coexistence among Muslims and Christians through tolerance and cultural understanding.
It was in Kauswagan where the spark ignited that would develop into the all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in 2000. Renewed hostilities ignited again in 2003 and 2008, souring the negotiations for a political settlement to the Moro rebellion.
Today, over two decades later, the town has become a major crops and fisheries producer in Lanao del Norte. The local government is also venturing into eco-tourism, converting its old pier into a boardwalk park.
Bangsamoro member of parliament Abdullah Macapaar, more known as the MILF’s Commander Bravo, thanked the local government for its Arms to Farms program which provided support to former rebels to go into farming.