READY, SET, GO - SHARIFF KABUNSUAN FESTIVAL 2012

A grand celebration will be expected as preparations are now underway for the 14th Shariff Kabunsuan Festival in Cotabato City.

Preparatory talks are now being made with prospective sponsors for the different activities lined up for the celebration. A number of new competitions will be expected like the Search for Ginoong Shariff Kabunsuan and Festival Queen. Meanwhile, Kuyog Street Dancing Competition and the Guinakit Fluvial Parade will still remain as the main events of the festival.

Aside from the Annual Celebration of the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival, the 2nd Cotabato City Crabfest will be held simultaneously. A Crab Exhibit will be done all throughout the occasion. There will also be a Crab Forum to be participated by interested groups and individuals in venturing into the crab business. A fun-filled Crab Race will also be done. And the highlight of the event will be the Crab Culinary Arts Competition where the creativity, taste, and originality of our crab cooking chefs will be tested.

The local government has tapped the Department of Trade and Industry 12, the Department of Tourism in ARMM and Region 12, the Metro Cotabato Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Department of Education, City PNP, the MBLT-1, and others for their cooperation during the 5-day event that will start on December 15 to 19, 2012.(http://www.cotabatocity.net.ph)

COTABATO CITY SCHOOL OF LIVING ARTS CENTER STAGE "MAMALU AT TABUNAWAY"

The COTABATO CITY SCHOOL OF LIVING ARTS (CCSLA) is a flagship program of CITY TOURISM OFFICE which envisions to be a catalyst in the conservation of the colorful cultural traditions, particularly of the Maguindanaon people.

          The areas of concentration for the first phase will cover performing arts (traditional dances, songs, musical instrument) and lectures on the culture of the people. This will give the students the needed foundation on the appreciation of the subjects. Program implementation has started with a lecture-demonstration on the Mguindanao cultural tradition wherein educators, choreographers and culture advocates were able to attend. Next was the conduct of theatre workshops for aspiring theatrical actors in the city.  This is in preparation for the staging of a major production which will be entitled “MAMALU AT TABUNAWAY”. This production contains both historical and cultural importance because it doesn’t only showcase the rich heritage of our city but of the entire Mindanao. In the midst of development, this will be a fitting event which will enhance knowledge and appreciation of our fellow Cotabateños. Mamalu at Tabunaway is scheduled to have its pilot staging during this year’s celebration of the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival

          Lastly, other than purely conservation of culture, the CCSLA will also serve as conduit for other avenues that Cotabateños seek for the furtherance of their cultural interest. It will not only serve the need of the youth but even professionals, and non-professionals who hunger for this. (SOURCE: CITY TOURISM OFFICE)

ISANG LIPI, ISANG DUGO

Theme from” Tabunaway at Mamalu”

Composed by: Benjie N. Abarca

Tayo’y isang lipi, tayo’y isang dugo

Hindi magkalaban, Dapat magmahalan

Kulay ng dugo mo at kulay ng dugo ko,

Iisa ang uri, lahing Pilipino

Magkaiba man tayo ng paniniwala

Iisa lang naman an gating Bathala,

Ang pinagmulan natin, iisang magulang

Buhay nati’y iisang hantungan

Kaya’t kapayapaan, ating itanim

Itong paglalaban ay tigilan natin

Igalang, unawain ang bawa’t isa

Tungo sa lubos na pag-kakaisa

Repeat all

Tayo’y isang lipi, tayo’y isang dugo

Tayo’y isang lipi, tayo’y Pilipino…………..

SHARIFF KABUNSUAN FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES 2011

Shariff Kabunsuan Festival

December 15-19, 2011

Dec. 3 – 31, 2011

SHARIFF KABUNSUAN 2011 TRADE FAIR

@ Al Nor Complex Grounds

Dec. 15  6:30AM    

KUYOG: STREETDANCING PARADE     

@ People’s Palace Grounds to City Plaza        

PM    

KUYOG SHOWCASE COMPETITION          

@ CCSPC Grounds

Dec. 15 onwards    

CRAB FESTIVAL BOOTH DISPLAY

@ Chowking Parking Space (Southseas Mall)

Dec. 15 (9AM)       

CRAB FORUM       

@ Southseas Mall Covention Center

                  

(1PM) BUSINESS MATCHING                               

@ Southseas Mall Covention Center

Dec. 16 (9AM)       

“KULINARYA” CRAB COOKING CONTEST      

@ Social Hall, People’s Palace

(2PM)

INAUGURATION OF OLD AND NEW AWIT NG COTABATO LANDMARK              

@ People’s Palace Grounds

Dec. 17 (6AM)       

FUNRUN

@ People’s Pace to City Plaza

Dec. 18 (7AM)      

MOUNTAIN BIKE CHALLENGE

@ People’s Pace to City Plaza

(9AM)

CRAB RACE, BIGGEST CRAB AND HEAVIEST CRAB                                 

@ City Plaza

                            

MAMALU AT TABUNAWAY PRODUCTION      

@ Southseas Mall Convention Center

   Matinee   (3PM)

   Gala Show (7PM)      

Dec. 19 (6AM)       

CIVIC MILITARY PARADE

@ CCSPC Grounds to Cotabato City Wharf

(8AM) GINAKIT FLUVIAL PARADE                       

@ Cotabato City Wharf

(3PM) INAUGURATION OF TANTAWAN PARK               

@ Foot of PC Hill

(4PM) GRAND KANDULI                                       

@ Lobby, People’s Palace

LIST OF FESTIVALS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2011

LIST OF FESTIVALS, SPECIAL EVENTS AND 

OTHER TOURISM EVENTS

REGION XII

CY 2011

December

1.    IMMACULATE CONCEPTION DAY – Cotabato City

-      December 8

-      Patronal town fiesta in Cotabato City highlighting civic military and cultural parade. Other events are trade fair, cultural shows, sports competition and religious activities.

CONTACT PERSON

       MR. BENJAMIN N. ABARCA

Supervising Tourism Operation Officer
Peoples Palace, Cotabato City
(064) 546-0430

2.    SHARIFF KABUNSUAN FESTIVAL – Cotabato City

photo from: my.opera.com

-       December 15-19

-      A celebration in commemoration with the arrival of Shariff Kabunsuan in Mindanao to bring Islam civilization.  The festival is characterized by fluvial parade, banca race, cultural street parade contest, ethnic sports and re-enactment of the arrival of Shariff Kabunsuan.

CONTACT PERSON

-      MR. BENJAMIN N. ABARCA

Supervising Tourism Operation Officer
Peoples Palace, Cotabato City
(064) 546-0430

3.    KANYONG KAWAYAN FESTIVAL – Kidapawan City

photo from: prepys.com

-      3^rd Week of December

-      A unique activity to do away with the dangerous pyrotechnics during the yuletide season. It is a city wide contest which feature the firing of bamboo canons using empty milk cans as projectiles. The canon fire the farthest wins the contest.

CONTACT PERSON

-      MAYOR RODOLFO GANTUANCO

City Mayor
Tel. No.: (064) 278-3361
Tel/Fax: (064) 228-1604

4.    KADAGAYAAN FESTIVAL – Alamada, Cotabato Province

-      December 7

-      An official trademark of the Municipality of Alamada which especially features Street Dancing every 7^th day of December  as a highlight of the Patronal Fiesta. And inspired by the abundance of products that the agricultural community could offer.

CONTACT PERSON

-      MR. NOLI S. DOROMAL

PPC President
Alamada, Cotabato Province
CP No. 0916-7355709

5.    FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS – Kidapawan City

photo from: demotix.com

-      December 1 – January 2

-      A light of tree contest, a pine tree decorated with 100’s of Christmas lights.

CONTACT PERSON

-      MAYOR RODOLFO GANTUANCO

City Mayor
Tel. No.: (064) 278-3361
Tel. No.: (064) 278-3361
Tel/Fax: (064) 228-1604

6.    KARITON FESTIVAL – Tupi, South Cotabato

-      December 10-14

-      A four-day pre-events  the highlighting the parade of karitons pulled by either a carabao or a cow made of indigenous materials bedecked with flowers, fruits, and vegetables. These have given the essence of the importance of karitons in the lives of the residents of Tupi, South Cotabato. The trade fair showcase the farm products brought by the karitons from the farms; the children’s role in understanding the role of kariton in making livelihood of their olds ad empowerment of the women in helping and providing livelihood.

CONTACT PERSON

-      MR. CESAR SULIT

Head, ACTS office
Provincial Planning and Development Office
Tel. No.: (083) 228-3447
Tel.Fax: (083) 228-3447

-      MR. ROLLY VISAYA

Tourism Incharge
Office of the Mayor
Tupi, South Cotabato
Tel.No.: (083) 228-9837

7.    PASKO SA GENSAN – Freedom Park, General Santos City 

photo from: busy-berna.blogspot.com

-    December 1-31

-      This is a month long Christmas festival featuring multifarious activities, such as caroling, singing contest, lantern making competitions, bazaars, fireworks displays and many more. During the season, the city is like bursting in flames, majestically radiating colorful sparkles, to the delight of old and young alike. The main highlight of the celebration is the building of a Christmas landmark using local materials and embodying the character of the city and the people. The main objective of the festivity is to free the people from the drabness of their daily struggles and toils that ushered Gensan to its current prosperous state, to prepare them physically and mentally for the year ahead; and to enable them to face the future with much vigor and enthusiasm. In short, it is a celebration of “LIFE”.

CONTACT PERSON

-      OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

Left Wing, City Hall
Tel. Fax.: (083) 554-4212

-      GSC ARTS AND CULTURE COUNCIL

c/o Office of the City Economic Mngnt. & Cooperative Office

photo from: saggi-space.blogspot.com

3^rd Flr., Brgy. Dadiangas Esat Hall
Quirino Ave., General Santos City

8.   HINUGYUNAY FESTIVAL @ City Plaza, Tacurong City

-      December 5 to January 2

-      A month long merriment filled with a series of activities highlights the light-a-tree contest and fireworks display.

CONTACT PERSON 
HON. CHARITO COLLADO
Vice Mayor
Tel.No.: (064) 384-1648
            (064) 200-5843