Festivals

" BANSADAYAW "
(Festival of Bagumbayan)

When the Christian settlers in Bagumbayan had already stabilized their farming status and begun reaping the fruits of their labor, foremost that came into their minds was the offering of thanks for such blessings from almighty God.

They did this in the form of Harvest Festival starting with religious prayers and highlighted with merrymaking festivities where the cultures and traditions of their places of origin were practiced and observed. Year after year, such kind of festivity had evolved with enhancements because Muslims and indigenous communities were able to learn and accept each others’ beliefs and traditions.

Thus, the “ Bansadayaw ” Festival came into existence. Although the term was coined Visayan – Ilonggo root word “ Bansa” which means “ in full view “ and “ sayaw “, hinugway, dayaw “ all having connotation of marrymaking, said activity was very much welcome by the entire inhabitants of Bagumbayan.

The Bansadayaw Festival was also meant that somebody in full view, is Lording and above humanity. He is the Heavenly Creator who wanted his creation to act and follow according to his will. Regardless of one’s status on earth, rich or poor, mighty or weak, famous or unknown, everybody is answerable during that day of Judgment. Therefore, this festival is a means to implore the divine guidance of Almighty God because without him people can do nothing.

The “ Bansadayaw Festival “ in synopsis is the realization of the citizens’ united effort to magnify and preserve the diversified cultural heritage of all tribes like the Muslims, T’boli, B’laan, Manobo, Ilonggo, Cebuano, Ilocano, Pampanggeñio and Tagalog who composed Bagumbayan today and most especially open tourism opportunities amidst cultural diversity.

" KASTIFUN "
(Festival of Columbio)

Kastifun connotes “gathering” in B’laan Ethnic dialect symbolizing Columbioans united stand to promote PEACE & DEVELOPMENT by way of bridging the gaps and redefining boundary of social biases.

Rooted from the deepest genre of the municipality, the KASTIFUN logo is drawn from 5 elements:

The BAMBOO being one of the major raw materials being used as craft and furniture in the municipality and as indispensable material for construction and equipment represents the flexibility and versatility of Columbiaon’s talent and skills as the main pillars of development. The bamboo shaped in triangle presents the tri-people residing in the municipality namely, Christians, Muslims and Lumads in different traditions and cultures bonded as one.

The GONG symbolizes the call for gathering and echoing the growth of endeavors and aspiration for peace in the municipality.

The SUN, shaped as flower-liked of different colors, describes the colorful festivity, aside from its being an emblem to enlighten and a guide beacon to the entire municipality.

The SIXTEEN RAYS represents the sixteen barangays of Columbio. The shining yellow rays in between, connote HOPE amongst the populace as they try to attain progress and development in a sustained manner.

The MOUNTAINOUS topographic view of Columbio, is more than just a landmark. It signifies the major livelihood of the inhabitants which is agriculture.

" HINABYOG "
(Festival of Esperanza)

HINABYOG FESTIVAL was once a dream now a reality. It came from an Ilonggo term “ HINABYOG “ which means swing to bring into reality, celebration of fun, merriment and thanksgiving. A festivity portrayed the mixed tradition and culture and the history of the very progressive municipality of Esperanza. This will have to commemorate the past and relate to the present the feast/rapid development of the place and will picture out the life of the populace from a very simple to a prosperous and progressive one.

From a mere NARRA settlement, ESPERANZA, the cradle of HOPE and PROSPERITY had swing and developed into a SITTIO of barangay Villamor. It was named after the beautiful wife of the settler leader Leandro Africa by the teacher enablers. It had steadfastly turned to a progressive municipality despite the tribal atrocities as history accounts.

A promise land with verdant forest and wild life exists, like wild pigs, ducks and chicken, deer’s jumping to and fro on huge log. This was the picture of the old Esperanza. Gone are the days when tarsiers and monkeys happily swing from tree to tree with the sweet melodies of the various kinds of birds with King Kalaw on lead and where populace trod narrow trails or laden on a sled pulled by a slow moving carabao. Now, all these are replaced by wide feeder farm roads and highways and various kinds of fast moving and improved transportation.

A place with a plenty of indigenous and natural resources helped enriched its inhabitants of Muslims, Christians and Lumads alike. The pioneers turned the area into progressive municipality. Before, agriculture had been the prime source of living. However, as the population grew, the people began to engage in simple cottage industries to sustain their way of life. Weaving which up to now exists, had been a very important activity as anahaw, buri, pandan, tikog, nito, wild bomboo and rattan which luxuriate in the place since then.

From these materials, mats, bags, baskets, kaing bilao and duyan were woven. The “DUYAN” has a big significance to the name of Esperanza’s festivity. To recall, it had not only given the populace, young and adult alike, a pleasure and fun, but was also utilized to transport patients and weak individuals to far away places to see doctor or medico when transportation was nowhere to find. DUYAN the family’s recreation and leisure partner for its countless swings or “ HABYOG “ brings from anyone from tiresome day’s toil, dreamy restful and sound nap during siesta or anytime of the day. It can lull babies to a sound sleep with their mother’s sweet lullabies.

From the swing or “habyog” of the duyan, or a patadyong, a malong and/or any sort of its kind due to the scarcity of rattan nowadays, HINABYOG FESTIVAL was realized to boast and portray the simple hopes and dreams of the ESPERANZANIANS to live a progressive and prosperous life.

HINABYOG can bring back the past to a progressive present through arts and culture and will continually swing hopes and dreams for a better BEAUTIFUL ESPERANZA, which will continually soar high with beautiful colors in the future.

" PASUNDAYAG "
(Festival of Isulan)

Every month of September, the municipality of Isulan is conducting the PASUNDAYAG FESTIVAL to celebrate its Foundation Anniversary. ISULANONS believe that the wealth of arts and culture is expressed in many forms and in so many kinds. The PASUNDAYAG Festival showcases the skills and talents in literary, musical and cultural aspects of the constituents both the young and the old. It is not only unique but is reflective of a special talent in the person as well.

The PASUNDAYAG also depicts the thanksgiving festival of its residents who are mostly engaged in agriculture. This includes rice and corn farming, vegetables and crops production including the famous African palm which has contributed a lot to the utilization of its by-products as construction materials – the uniquely woven ”kalakat” known all over Mindanao.

The festival is divided into two parts: the first part shows the different activities being done in the farm. After which a thanksgiving is performed for their good harvest. The second part shows the merrymaking in the form of dance using different properties and materials that make it very festive.

As a whole, the PASUNDAYAG Festival actually expresses life itself or deep-seated emotion communicated by the emotions of the human body blending with the music. The flow of body movements, the sound of the music and the grace with which the dance is executed all build up the story or emotions being communicated.

No doubt, this is a unique form of art, and along with other activities or talent being displayed during festivities, it is a contribution to the dreams of establishing solidarity among the peoples in the province of Sultan Kudarat.

" SALAGAAN "
(Festival of Kalamansig)

Sa dakong kanluran ng Lalawigan ng Sultan Kudarat, ay matagtagpuan ang matulain at makasaysayang Bayan ng Kalamansig. A pangalang Kalamansig ay mula sa isang maalamat na kwento ng mga katutubong Dulangan Manobo at hango sa salitang “Kula-man-sa-ig” na nangangahulugang “Manobo sa Katubigan”.

Ang Dulangan Manobo ay likas na namumuhay sa mga biyaya ng kalikasan, ang mayamang kabundukan ay nag sisilbing kanilang tahanan at pinag kukunan ng kanilang pagkain, gamit para sa kanilang mga tirahang dampa, at ganon narin ang sari-saring gamot laban sa ibat- ibang uri ng karamdaman.

Likas din silang magsasaka na umaasa lamang sa likas na yaman at taba ng lupa. At ayon narin sa kultura at tradisyon ng Dulangan Manobo tuwing sagana at hitik sa bunga ang kanilang pananim, sila ay nag diriwang ng “Salagaan” na nangangahulugang masaganang ani.

Sa pagkakataong ito, ginaganap ang walang humpay na kasiyahan, kasaliw ng mga tugtugin, tambol at hiyawan bilang pasalamat at pag-aalay kay “Manama” ang kinikilalang maykapal ng tribong Dulangan Manobo. Sa ganitong pagkakataon nagkakaisa ang tribu, upang ipahayag ang iisang mithiin ng kapayapaan, pagmamahal, masagana at masayang pamumuhay.

" Lambayong "
(Festival of Kalamansig)

TIMPUYOG FESTIVAL is commemorated during harvest season of Lambayong, which is widely known as the rice granary of Sultan Kudarat. The festival capitalized on agriculture through rhythm and dance steps on the fields and in the streets as a thanksgiving ritual. Timpuyog convivial beats continue as the spirits survive as each Pilipino cherish their staple food – rice.

Timpuyog was coined from the merger of culture encounter in this part of Mindanao. Convergence evolved from the chemistry to opulent culture and tradition of both Muslim and Christian. Instead of the option to drastic transition to favor sides the endurance of understanding and the principle of co – existence resisted radical alteration or challenge culture extinction. The peoples of Lambayong – peasants, businessmen and professionals march and convoke to work abreast to promote their birthplace a heaven from generations to come. Their produced-rice in general, becomes a centerpiece of unity. Comes harvest season, the Ilocanoes as they dominated the populace invite everyone and shout, “Agtimpuyogtayo” (Let us gather and unite) and reap the grain. After the labor and counted the bountiful harvest again “Agtimpuyog” shout the residents and do the festival thanksgiving rituals. The echoing sounds of the Timpuyog rang annually for years and even scaling louder. As Lambayonguenos dedicate their live and blood of planting, harvesting and distributing rice to the 7,100 islands of the archipelago, Timpuyog Festival, becomes the heritage of this part of Sultan Kudarat that even oblivion cannot capture.

The vim of TIMUYOG Festival today may not be as conventional as it was, yet its episodes from gongs to drums and from cultural dances to ethno – modern steps escalate upbeat and just opposite to steps forward. …. Further and chant…. LONG LIVE TIMPUYOG..SULONG LAMBAYONG, MABUHAY SULTAN KUDARAT…

" HINUGYAW "
(Festival of Lebak)

Kung ang isang lugar ay maaring isalarawan ng mga mamamayang nakatira dito, ang Lebak ay masasabing isang lugar na kung saan ang bawa’t tribu ng ating bansa ay mayroong kinatawan.

Ang resulta nito ay isang bayang pinalakas at pinatatag ng samu’t saring Kultura at tradisyon sa bawa’t tribo ng Pilipinas. Bagama’t iba-iba ang relihiyong pinanggalingan ng mga mamamayan ng bayang ito, halos lahat ay nakasentro ang hanapbuhay sa pagsasaka, ang tinatawag na industriya ng ating bansa.

Kung kaya ang tradisyon na ating nakikita sa bawa’t uri ng mga kultura ng bayang ito, ay ang pasasalamat sa tuwing masagana ang ani. Nagsimula ang tradisyon ng pagsasaya sa Lebak noong dekada sitenta. Tinatawag ito noon na ati- atihan. Ito’y hinango sa Visayas katulad ng ati-atihan ng Aklan, Dinagyang ng Iloilo at Sinulog ng Cebu.

Ang kasaysayan ng mga festival na ito ay maaring galing sa mga kaugalian ng tribung Aeta at pinaglaho ng katolikong paniniwala lalung-lalo na ang pagdedeboto sa Sto. Niño. Mga limang taon na ang nakaraan, ang mga iba’t-ibang lider ng mga pagdiriwang na ito ay pormal na isinaayos ang kanilang grupo at pinalawak pa sa pagdagdag ng mga bagong kasali.

Mula sa pagsasaayos ng mga ito nagsimula ang taunang paligsahan ng pagsasaya ng iba’t ibang tribu ng bayan ng Lebak. Pormal na tinawag ito na Hinugyaw – pagsasaya bilang pasasalamat sa masaganang ani at magandang pamumuhay.

Hinugyaw isang salitang hango sa wikang Hiligaynon. Ang presentasyon ng kinatawan ng Lebak sa paligsahang ito ng lalawigan ng Sultan Kudarat ay isang uri o porma ng Hinugyaw na hango sa tribu ng Manobo, isang tribung lumad sa Lebak. Ang tribung ito ay tinatawag na tribung maninikop. Bagama’t di kalakihan ang tribung ito ay may payak na pamumuhay na ang sentro ay ang pagtatanim at panghuhuli ng isda sa mga ilog ng Lebak.

Bawa’t taon, ang mga mamayang Manobo, lalong lalo na ang mga kabataan ay nag susuot ng pinakamagandang tradisyonal na kasuotan at sa pamamagitan ng ritual na sayaw ay nagbibigay pasasalamat sa Poong Maykapal.

Sa saliw ng tambol at iba pang gamit pangmusika, sa espesyal na araw na ito ng Hinugyaw, ay inaaalay nila ang galing ng kanilang pag – indak at iba pang mga kaugaliang galaw.

" KANDULI "
(Festival of Lutayan)

Kanduli is the Maguindanao term, which literally means “offering”, which implies two important things: First, we offer because we thank the Almighty God for the blessings he extended such as peace, unity and progress in the lives of the people of Lutayan for the passed years. Second, we offer because we want to sustain what we have achieved or even ask some blessings for the improvement of life of every citizen in the community.

Kanduli festival is a culture and Islamic faith based activity that also mean “thanksgiving” for every good deed a Muslim brother has done for his brethren. In like manner, food offering is traditionally offered or shared to show love and concern to others especially to less fortunate. These are the reasons why we can not just put streamers anywhere in the streets and reflect “Long Live Lutayan”, without actual celebration of its foundation anniversary thru Kanduli Festival because we want to thank the creator for what we have now and at the same time pray not only to sustain our present conditions but to harness some more the climate of the harmony and widen the horizon of unity, peace and development that dwell in our hearts and flourish between and among us in the next days years to come.

Kanduli is a 3-day celebration and culminates every 12th day of October. This celebration was started since 2002 during the administration of Hon. Datu Suharto T. Mangudadatu. The festival showcases the different events and activities highlighting the revival of the rich Maguindanaon culture. Major agricultural products of every barangay are being offered, among which is the inland fishing products and different Muslim delicacies.

The celebration also recognizes the vital role of the different sectors existing in Lutayan such as the Religious Sectors of both Muslims and Christians, the Education Sector, the Senior Citizens, the Women’s Organization in this municipality because it is acknowledged that they are part or major contributor of making what is Lutayan now.

The local Chief Executive of the municipality of Lutayan through the Leadership of Hon. Raden Sakaluran is exerting effort to sustain the activity despite of economic constrains because it’s a way to be able to establish and strengthen closer ties among the people of Lutayan despite the existence of diversity and differences in culture. Likewise, this festival manifests the loyalty of its people and the cooperation to the ideals and aspirations of the municipality.

" KALILANG "
(Festival of Palimbang)

A Manobo Bagobo Village in Baluan, the people are hard working and united. Inspite of their simple living they are happy and contented of what they have. During planting season, people practice the bayanihan system to prepare the land for planting. Men and women, young and old, helped each other in the farm. They are enjoying these activities because it is the time for gathering and knowing each other better.

The happiness of the people in the community was short-lived. When their plants was about to bear fruits, calamity struck the whole area and all the people were saddened and depressed. They then gathered together and tried to look for ways and means to overcome the situation. After their concerted effort, eventually, they won over the plague.

In celebration of their success, they made an offering to the “God of Harvest” for the victory and the abundant blessings they achieved as a sort of their thanksgiving. Because of that calamity, the community valued the spirit of unity and cooperation. They realized that their strength would become stronger when they join hands and fight for a common objective.

From then on, the culture of MANOBO BAGOBO CLATTA was adopted and became known as “ KALILANG/SANUFE FESTIVAL”

" SAMBUYAWAN "
(Festival of President Quirino)

SAMBUYAWAN is a festival celebrated annually in celebration of the Foundation Anniversary of the municipality of President Quirino.

SAMBUYAWAN is a word coined from the original name of former President Quirino, which is SAMBUYAWAN, a former barangay of Buluan, Maguindanao prior to its creation into a district and separate municipality by virtue of Presidential Decree 339 issued by late President Ferdinand E. Marcos on November 22, 1973.

The first two syllables which is SAMBU is a Muslim word for BULO-a greenish-yellow colored small bamboo which abound in the place in the early days. The word “SAMBU” is also extracted from the former name of the municipality which is SAMBULAWAN whereas the two remaining syllables which is “YAWAN” appropriately described the various activities during the town fiesta celebration expressed in the form of “SAYAWAN” (folk dancing street dancing) “HIYAWAN” (cheering, yelling, shouting or chanting) with the accompaniment of gongs, drums, bamboo, tubes or any indigenous instrument that create upbeat sounds.

Contests in street dancing, cheering, drum corps, folk dancing, and other forms of dance disciplines, carnivals and other Agri – trade fairs are conducted during the main fiesta day bringing the color and festive mood of the celebration to a high gear.

The SAMBUYAWAN FESTIVAL captures the ethnic and rich socio – cultural heritage of the ambivalent tribes that inhabit the place consisting of Ilocanos, Ilongos, Maguindanaons, Maranaws, Tagalogs, Pangasinenses, Tausogs and all other tribes breaking barriers of diversity in culture and belief and building up a sound and harmonious co – existence.

" SULOK "
(Festival of Senator Ninoy Aquino)

Senator Ninoy Aquino is located at mountainous part of Sultan Kudarat Province, where the Manobo Dulangan tribe is the Original settlers of the area. Years after, because of the rich and vast resources of the area, this prompted to the influx of many Christian settlers in Kulaman. Together they enjoy the vastness and the rich natural resources of the place.

SULOK is Manobo Dulangan term for basket. Long ago forefathers of Manobo Dulangan tribe made sulok out of a tree bark. Now, Manobo women learned to weave, the beautiful make it out of “dapdap” and nito’, splits in an intrinsic design. A rectangular and circular shape made out of “dapdap” (a family of bamboo) weaved in different sizes. Manobo Dulangan Women especially ladies often sling sulok on their heads and shoulders with their belongings for adornments. Manobo also used a small sulok with covering called “ sinagfeng”. Chewing ingredients such as betel nuts, tobacco, ash and buyo for their mama’ are placed in a small sulok.

During planting season rituals is performed to convey their strong belief for a plenteous and abundant harvest using sulok as their container of corn and palay seeds. Sulok serves as a container in preserving their palay, corn and other products for their consumption until the next planting season.

Manobos are nomadic by nature and sulok is used as container in transferring their belongings from one place to another. Through a Resolution number 02-08 series of 2002 it was declared that SULOK Festival is the official name of the yearly foundation anniversary of Senator Ninoy Aquino.

As to the festival, the term sulok symbolizes their struggle and efforts placed thirteen years ago and beyond as they were called the aborigines of Kulaman now Senator Ninoy Aquino municipality. The term also symbolizes the unity of the constituents together with the Local Government Unit who are now reaping the fruits of their labor and sacrifices in favor to the general welfare of the people to enhance nation building and development of this municipality. Due to this effect Sulok Festival was declared as official name of Senator Ninoy Aquio foundation Anniversary in the Province of Sultan Kudarat enshrine to inculcate paramount role of oneness and belongings among the populace

Through this festival Senator Ninoy Aquino started to boost its name and natural wonders and resources present in the municipality. This great success is accredited to the Manobo Dulangan tribes of Senator Ninoy Aquino.

" TALAKUDONG "
(Festival of Tacurong City)

“TALAKUDONG” is a historical and cultural spectacle chiefly performed in street dancing and rituals accompanied with exotic and native sounds of bamboo drums, kulintang and gongs.

It is a head – covering Festival designed to blend the different Filipino cultures. A rare spectacle featuring multi-fabric, multi-sized, multi-colored, multi-shaped and multi – ornamented head gears worn by street dancers, ritual performers, guest and everybody joining the Talakudong.