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Festivals & Fiestas
Text and Images by Ronald de Jong
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The many fascinating festivals that are organized in Mindanao are a dynamic, integral part of daily life; these festivities
are rooted deeply within the people and their culture. With high spirits, enormous vitality and great enthusiasm, different
kinds of creative activities, big or little ceremonies are held all year round in several regions of this exotic peninsula.
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 Mindanaoans are gentle and fun-loving people who enjoy every moment of celebrating their town fiestas and festivals
by the various communities to pay tribute to a historic event or religious fervour. Suited up in colourful costumes, participants
paint their bodies and faces to perform at the many processions and popular street dancing contests that are held in every
corner of the island, representing a blend of umpteen religious beliefs, promoting their rich heritage. Festivals in Mindanao
are the backbone of the island's legacy, they can be extravagant and flamboyant, but at any time an engaging and entertaining
show to local and foreign spectators.
Far and away the most significant celebration in Davao is the Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival, often dubbed as Mindanao's
"festival of all festivals" and one of the country's top drawing anniversaries. Being held every August to celebrate the wealth
of the city's heritance and the bountiful harvest of Davao's flowers, fruits and other products. The term "Kadayawan" is taken
from the Mandaya word "madayaw", meaning a friendly and warm greeting for all good things in life. Floats of fruits and flowers,
and a variety of indigenous tribes parading the streets, dressed in tribal costumes are just some of the highlights bringing
a festive atmosphere all over the city.
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 Just like the Kalilangan festival, the Tuna Festival in General Santos City features the traditional parades with replicas
of tuna and other sea-creatures. Several contesting groups energetically perform their best street dancing capabilities on
inspiring, rhythmical music. But the centrepieces of this ceremony are the many culinary presentations held throughout the
city. This one week long cultural observance is not to honour any patron saint or historical event, but an acknowledgment
to the city's flourishing fishing industry.
One of the more interesting merry-making activities in the province of South Cotabato is the Helubong Festival, the
main festival of the native T'boli and B'laan tribe's people of Lake Sebu. Helubong is a T'boli word meaning never-ending
joy. Every 2nd week of November, the T'boli people, dress up in their native attire; kimu t'boli and ngom and demonstrate
their different arts and dynamic culture with songs, dances, rituals and games, like the traditional horse fight. The Helubong festival, a spectacle
where rural wisdom comes alive, is a seven day journey through the past, present and future of this magnificent region, its
community and their unique folklore.
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A real exhibit of unity is the Kalimudan Festival, held in Sultan Kudarat
every November, Kalimudan is a Maguindanaoan phrase meaning "informal gathering".
This maternal revelry brings together about every major ethnic group on the island, like the Manobo, Tiruray or T'boli
to commemorate the foundation anniversary of Sultan Kudarat. The festivity memorialize the richness of Mindanao arts and the
tribes social, ancestral and historical heritage with various activities such as street dance, sports competitions and the
exchange of gifts
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 Mindanao is famous for its communal celebrations, the fiestas, these occasions are of a great personal importance to
the social life of rural Filipinos. Family, friends and neighbours, from other barrios will visit each other to enjoy the
abundance of food and exchange the latest gossip, for them a good fair will bring good luck for the rest of the year. Fiestas
are usually smaller in scale than festivals; every barangay holds an annual feast in remembrance of a local historical event
or honouring its patron saint. Fiestas with striking names like the Babak Fiesta,
Peņaplata Fiesta, Musikahan, Araw ng Sta. Cruz and the Mango Fiesta are an essential component
of provincial living. The main features of the festivities are often a carnival, a village fair, and in many events a beauty
pageant.
Beauty pageants are an inseparable piece of almost every event in Mindanao, local girls show off their charm, good
looks and talents, expressing the vibrant spirit of their home town and fiesta. The most prestigious beauty pageant in Mindanao
is the Mutya ng South Cotabato, held during the T’nalak festival in Koronadal city. This happening is an breathtaking competition with international allure.
An encounter open for ambitious candidates from the province of South Cotabato and abroad. All of them, passionately trying
to impress the judges and dreaming of a chance to be one of the main contestants. The fairest of all will be chosen and crowned
as the queen of the festival; she will take her rightful place on the throne of the float.
These many eye-catching, popular festivals and fiestas are rich in tradition and history, handed down from generation
to generation, each occurrence is as unique as the people it represents. It is what makes this tropical islet one of the most
exciting tourist destinations in the Philippines. No matter when and where you travel, whatever time of the year, it seems
there is always some kind of beautiful and mesmerizing get together going on, providing amazing opportunities to experience
the genuine hospitality and incomparable warmth of the wondrous people of Mindanao.
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