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| Talakag Street Dancers |
MALAYBALAY CITY- Summer is colorful and vibrant as ever
in Bukidnon, even the weather is cold, its City the Malaybalay is called the
summer capital of Northern Mindanao, on our first day a hard pouring rain
welcome us.
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| Kitao-Tao Entry |
It is my first time witness and experience Kaamulan
Festival, it started almost 30 years ago as a simple gathering of 7 lumad
tribes of the Province of Bukidnon, since its inception as a festival it is one
of the most celebrated event in the northern Mindanao and was called the
authentic ethnic festival in the Philippines as well.
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| Maramag Street Dancers |
Why authentic? Like in the some festival, Kaamulan
practice the very traditional way of doing the celebration, from the native
dances and rituals are accompany by the elders of the tribes, you will see them
perform in the streets to show support and blessings for their entry.
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| Kadilingan Street Dancers |
This year’s festival is highlighted by the much
anticipated street dancing competition that is usually participated by its 20
municipalities and 2 cities, this year’s contingent is only eight that battle
in three categories, the street dancing competition, the open ground
competition and the best float contest.
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| Malaybalay City Street Dancers |
As early as 6 in the morning of April 13, people already
gathered in the Sayre highway of Malaybalay City to witness this momentous
event, each contingent has a story to tell that usually depicts the lives of
their ancestors, the way of living then, the nature and its kind animals, and
some traditions and rituals that molds Bukidnon now.
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| Kitao-Tao Muse |
What’s unique with Kaamulan is the combination of whole
tribe in their performances, even elderlies to younger generations, or tribe
council members are active in performing thru the spirit of unity that signify
the word Kaamulan that literally means to gather, proving it as legit ethnic
cultural festival. From the bukid word Amul meaning to gather, is the origin
word of Kaamulan.
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| Malitbog Street Dancers |
The dances usually show the lives and traditions of
different tribes, their way of living, the monkeys they use to play, the birds
and of course the beautiful nature they have, they believe in spirits that
surrounds them, some of them are good and some are bad.
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| Kitao-tao entry |
From the 8 entries my two favorites the most are the contingent from Manolo Fortich and the Kitao-tao, for me the Kitao-Tao has the most cute and charming monkey dance but they didn't get any award at tall, of course we respect the judges decision.
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| Fortich winning float |
For the Float competition, Malitbog group take home the
second prize award, while Malaybalay City got the first prize, and grand
champion is declare for Manolo Fortich group.
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| Malitbog Float |
Street Dancing winner is Malaybalay City, followed by
Talakag while Malitbog group got the second spot, for the ground competition,
Malitbog is the grand champion, 1st place goes to Malaybalay City
and Talakag is on the second spot. Grand champion take home P250,000 cash
prize.
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| Malitbog Street Dancers |
During its program proper at the Provincial Capitol
Grounds of Bukidnon, own beloved son of the province Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri
announce some progress coming in for Bukidnon that will make Kaamulan a bigger
festival thru his efforts in the senate, this is the construction of P1billion
worth airport and terminal building, this will make not only Malaybalay City a
gateway of Bukidnon, but the whole province as well.
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| Malaybalay Muse and Escort |
Kaamulan Festival dates are changing, sometimes it was June and mostly it was every March to April of the year.
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| Kitao-Tao Street Dancers |
The whole Kaamulan Festival is such a great experience, the people of Bukidnon are all nice and accomodating, even though you don't speak Bisaya, they will still entertain and help you in many ways. Until the next Kaamulan Festival.
Special thanks to Tourism Promotion Board of the Department of Tourism.
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