As part of the city-wide celebration of the Balangay Festival 2026, Caraga State University (CSU) is hosting “Sugilon Balanghay: Stories from India” at the Activity Loft of the HERO Learning Commons, running from May 6–7, 2026. The event is organized by the Sentro sa Wika at Kultura under the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHaSS), in partnership with the Butuan City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department.
The two-day cultural and educational event features three internationally acclaimed storytellers from India, namely Jeevah Raghunath, Vikram Sridhar, and Aparna Jaishankar. The event includes story exchanges, performative storytelling sessions, and workshops involving both the invited guests and CSU students. This initiative provides students, faculty, and staff a unique opportunity to engage in cross-cultural learning through the global art of narrative.
University President Dr. Rolyn C. Daguil personally welcomed the participants, guest storytellers, and organizers, led by City Tourism Head Mr. Kevin Jay Hinaloc and Senior Culture and Arts Officer Mr. Richard Dian Vilar. Dr. Daguil expressed his sincere appreciation to the Local Government of Butuan and Mayor Atty. Lawrence ‘Law’ H. Fortun for their vital support and for fostering an environment that welcomes diverse global perspectives to the city.
Sugilon Balanghay: Stories from India is a cornerstone of the Balangay Festival 2026. From May 1–10, 2026, the organizers and invited storytellers are visiting academic institutions and cultural spaces across Butuan City to share, learn, and connect through the timeless art of storytelling.
