Azkals to grace Butuan City’s 1^st Balangay Football Festival on May 16-18

by Ben Serrano

     May 12, 2011

            BUTUAN CITY (PNA) - Members of now famous Philippine Football Team Azkals are expected to grace the 1^st Balanghay Football Festival which will be held at sprawling Butuan City Sports Complex on May 16-18, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga regional office said.

            In the PIA report, two Azkal members Kim Relucio and Jerry Barbaso are expected to arrive here in Butuan City on May 16 to grace the football sports competition, the first to be held in this city in time of the Balanghay Festival.

            Butuan City Vice Mayor Atty. Lawrence Fortun, President of Butuan City-Agusan del Norte Football Association (BANFA) said football enthusiasts, competitors and football teams from as far as cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Marawi City and other cities and provinces of Caraga region have signified participation in the 1st Balanghay Football Festival competition.

            BANFA together with Butuan City Government under leadership of Butuan City Mayor Dr. Ferdinand Amante, Jr. sponsors the event.

            Prizes, medals and commendations await winners in the first almost Mindanao-wide football competition to be held here in Butuan City, Caraga regions’ capital.

            Aside from the football competition, month-long activities now called Balanghay Festival are being prepared in time for the Butuan City Fiesta in honor of the City’s patron saint, St Joseph, the Worker held every May 18 to 19 every year.

            Vice Mayor Fortun and Butuan City Mayor Dr. Ferdinand Amante, Jr . enjoins all Butuanons to actively participate in the Balangay Festival. (PNA/Ben Serrano)