Higalaay Festival 2026: Cagayan de Oro Crowns Kriezl Jane Torres
Cagayan de Oro crowned Kriezl Jane Vitorillo Torres of Barangay Tablon as Miss Cagayan de Oro 2026 on the evening of 22 August. The coronation at the Atrium of Limketkai Mall was one of the major events in the city’s monthlong Higalaay Festival.
Local coverage published on coronation night confirmed Torres as the winner. It named Noreen Ashley Cabonialda of Barangay 17 as first runner-up, Zusmitha Sheen Itum of Barangay Cugman as second runner-up, Erika Gabutan of Barangay Lapasan as third runner-up, and Trisha Salvani Abalos of Barangay Carmen as fourth runner-up.
A result involving communities across Cagayan de Oro
The Cagayan de Oro City Government’s candidate announcement recorded 12 contestants representing 12 barangays and confirmed the 22 August coronation date. Torres represented Tablon in the 61st edition of the city pageant.
The result matters beyond the stage because the pageant is part of a wider programme intended to reflect Kagay-anon identity and community participation. The Philippine Information Agency reported that Higalaay 2026 includes 58 official events spanning culture, arts, tourism, sports and community activities.
What festival visitors should know
The coronation result covers only the Miss Cagayan de Oro competition. Separate Higalaay events and their results should be checked through official city and organiser channels as they take place. Readers planning a visit can use Festive Pinoy’s Cagayan de Oro destination guide, while the Philippine festivals overview provides wider cultural context.
Update: 27 August 2026
Barangay Agusan was crowned champion of the Higalaay Festival 2026 Streetdancing Competition held in Cagayan de Oro on 26 August. The official Cagayan de Oro City Information Office result identified Ranniel Taburnal as head of contingent, Jolny Johnson Balatero as choreographer and Reymar Taha as musical director.
The city also announced four special awards:
- Best in Costume: Barangay Carmen
- Best in Musicality: Barangay Agusan
- Best in Storyline: Barangay 17
- Best in Production Design: Barangay Carmen
These official special-award results add a major community competition outcome to the earlier pageant result. As of 27 August, the authoritative city posts linked above confirm the champion and special awards but do not provide a complete runner-up table, so no additional overall placements are reported here.
Update: 28 August 2026
Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School, commonly known as MOGCHS, won the Higalaay Marching Band Competition held on 27 August at the Limketkai Grounds. The official Cagayan de Oro City Information Office results placed the Liceo de Cagayan University Drum and Bugle Corps second and Tumpagon National High School third.
The city said judges assessed musicality, visual presentation, showmanship and overall impact. MOGCHS received the ₱100,000 first prize, a trophy and ₱50,000 in sponsor products; Liceo de Cagayan University received ₱75,000 and a trophy; and Tumpagon National High School received ₱50,000 and a trophy.
The competition formed part of the 27 August civic-military parade, which ran from Rodelsa Circle to Limketkai Center. The new result extends the festival’s confirmed community outcomes beyond the pageant and street-dancing competitions already reported above.
