Danao City comes alive with the celebration of the Karansa Festival 2024,
filling the streets with the sounds and sights of this annual celebration of faith, culture and heritage.
The day begins with the familiar beat of Karansa drums, marking the festival’s opening. Ten
contingents from local schools representing Danao City’s clustered barangays participate in the
Street Dancing Competition, showcasing synchronized movements to the four signature dance
steps: Kiay, Kurug, Karag and Karahay.
Despite the rain, the festival pushes through with each contingent in colorful costumes, dancing
through the streets to the festival’s rhythmic tunes. The performances continue at the Ramon
Durano Sr. Sports Complex, Barangay Sabang, where the Ritual Showdown and Karansa Festival
Queen Competition take place.
Crowds witness impressive performances that highlight the creativity, cultural pride and recent
achievements of Danao City, all paying tribute to the city’s patron saint, Sto. Tomas de Villanueva.
The grand winner of this year’s Ritual Showdown, Tribu sa Madasigong Masloganon from Capt.
Mariano L. Espera Jr. Memorial National High School, incorporates Danao City’s recent
achievement in the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI), where it ranked 1st
in the Most Improved Component Cities in the entire Philippines. Their performance highlights
this victory, showcasing both cultural pride and the city’s progress.
The newly crowned Karansa Festival 2024, Althea Grace Viscayno is also from the same tribe.
Danao City Mayor Thomas Mark “Mix” H. Durano and Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III lead
the celebrations, alongside Senator Bato Dela Rosa and other city officials. The event also features
guest performances by Filipino actor Paul Salas and content creator Aaron Maniego.
The grand finale sees everyone joining in a collective dance to the new Danao City jingle, ‘More
Than Ready,’ celebrating the city’s forward momentum and unity.
The Karansa Festival, held every third Sunday of September, is a celebration of Danao City’s
cultural heritage and devotion to Sto. Tomas de Villanueva. More than a celebration, Karansa is
also a reflection of Danao City’s vibrant history and unwavering unity. With each beat of the drum
and each step of the dance, Danao City proudly moves forward, holding on to the past while MORE
THAN READY to embrace the future, HERE AND NOW.
As what Mayor Durano states, “Pinaagi sa tabang ug pangaliya sa ato’ng mahal nga patron, pinaagi
sa kadasig nato’ng Danawanon, ang Danao padayon’g nagasidlak, Danao continues to be the beacon
of progress and development in the Province of Cebu. Buhing testamento nga bisan pa man nag
inusara, the will and courage of the Danawanons will always prevail. DANAO CITY IS MORE
THAN READY!”