MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON — The town of Malitbog narrowly missed scoring a clean sweep of the top awards at Bukidnon’s “Kaamulan Festival Ethnic Street Dancing” held in the streets of this capital city and at the Kaamulan Grounds on March 3.
SCENE FROM KAAMULAN FESTIVAL: 1st prize winner at the Ethnic Float Parade from Malitbog
“Costumes and the (indigenous peoples) were authentic and the floats were fantastic!” said Department of Tourism (DoT) Region 10 director Catalino B. Chan III.
“Kaamulan is certainly No. 1 for fun in the Philippines!” he added.
Malitbog garnered first place for the ethnic street dancing ground presentation tableau competition held at the Kaamulan Grounds, and was also runner-up in the showcase “Ethnic Street Dancing Competition” won by a contingent from the town of Maramag.
SCENE FROM KAAMULAN FESTIVAL: 1st prize winner at the Ethnic Float Parade from MalitbogMalitbog’s troupe featured the Higaonon tribe’s “Piglumanan hu mga Bagani” (legion of warriors), the tribe’s traditional defenders of their Tagbanhawan (ancestral domain), their Kabukalagan (tribe), Nabunayan (environment) and Kalandang (peace).
The town’s prize-winning float featuring a giant animated hawk or banog — an iconic figure, which is predominant in Higaonon myth and legend — was also judged “Best Float,” over floats from Quezon town and Valencia City, which finished second and third, respectively.
Malitbog’s tableau presentation was highlighted by a saot (war dance) depicting battle with the dumagats (lowlanders) who wanted to exploit their lands for illicit activities like logging, mining and land-grabbing.
Peace is eventually attained through a “Tampuda hu Balagun” (cutting of the green vine), an ancient ritual where a vine is cut to symbolize the end of tribal feuds among warring clans. Meanwhile, Maramag town won the grand prize for the Kaamulan Festival’s showcase “Ethnic Street Dancing” with its “Lalabutan,” or the traditional barter of goods among the lumads or indigenous peoples, focusing on its central role as the crossroads of Mindanao, whereby travelers from all over the island would rest and take their meals on flat stones along the banks of the Pulangi River.
Maramag also finished second to Malitbog in the tableau presentation at the Kaamulan grounds, which was personally led by town mayor Alicia P. Resus. Finishing third for both street dancing and tableau competitions was the town of San Fernando, which showcased the “Tigwahanons Logtoy” (bountiful harvest) featuring the “Pamalas” (a ritual seeking blessings and guidance from the Almighty), “Kamot” (cleansing the farm), “Talupak Pamugas” (planting of seeds) and the “Bangkakawan” (spear-fishing while awaiting the harvest).
SCENE FROM KAAMULAN FESTIVAL: Cabanglasan’s healing ritual dance
The Tigwahanons (people of the Tigwa River) are descended from the Proto-Manobos and reside along the Tigwa River and the Tigwa-Salug Valley in San Fernando town, next to Davao del Norte. They are outspoken people and are known as the traders among the Bukidnon tribes.
SCENE FROM KAAMULAN FESTIVAL: Cabanglasan’s healing ritual danceOther competitors included the “Pamuhat Te Haklaran” of Cabanglasan town, a healing ritual dance focusing on the Umayamnen’s faith in Magbabaya (the Almighty); the Sunggod ta Kamanga (blessings and protection for good harvest) of the Matigsalog tribe of Quezon town; “Kalilang” (Festival for Peace) showcases the history of conflict, reconciliation, and peace between the Manobos and the Maranaos of Kalilangan; and the “Kalagun” (thanksgiving for bountiful harvest) of the Higaonons of Valencia City.
Last year, the Kaamulan organizing committee modified the rules for the street dancing competition to ensure it would focus on the seven hill tribes of Bukidnon and the ‘Ulaging Hu Agyu’ epic hero of the Proto-Manobo.
Choreographers of the competing groups were briefed on the changes in line with the festival’s overarching objective to preserve the heritage and culture of Bukidnon.
Previously, the ethnic street dancing was criticized for not being faithful to the heritage and culture of the seven tribes of Bukidnon.
Kaamulan Festival is an ethnic cultural festival held annually in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, from the second half of February to March 10, the charter anniversary of Bukidnon as a province in 1917.
It celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the province’s seven ethnic tribal groups: Bukidnon, Higaonon, Talaandig, Manobo, Matigsalug, Tigwahanon and Umayamnon.
Kaamulan comes from the Binukid word “amul” meaning “to gather.”
Kaamulan is gathering for a purpose, a datu or kingship ritual, a wedding, a thanksgiving during harvest time, a peace pact, or all of these together.
SCENE FROM KAAMULAN FESTIVAL: Higaonon courtship dance
SCENE FROM KAAMULAN FESTIVAL: Higaonon courtship dance
Kaamulan started as a festival on May 15, 1974, during the fiesta celebration of the then municipality of Malaybalay.
A town official thought of inviting some indigenous people to town and made them perform a few dance steps at Plaza Rizal to enliven the fiesta celebration. The celebration proved very popular, however, and the Kaamulan festival has been recognized as the regional festival of Northern Mindanao by the Regional Development Council, with national coverage.
Kaamulan was formerly held in the first week of September but in 1996, it was transferred to its present date to synchronize it with the foundation celebration of the province.