New iPad unveiled
Paying the Correct Taxes... “A Noble Act of Concern and Love, for Oneself, our Children and our Country”
Oust Emano call continues
p5 Infotech
p8
Environment
YOUR MINDANAO-WIDE NEWSPAPER
http://www.mindanaodailybalita.com
VOL. 1, No. 250
Cagayan de Oro City
Saturday
March 10, 2012
P10.00
Kaamulan Festival 2012: Malitbog dominates Kaamulan Ethnic Street Dancing but Maramag wins Grand Prix By MIKE BAÑOS
M
ALAYBALAY CITY – Malitbog municipality narrowly missed scoring a clean sweep of the top awards for Bukidnon’s Kaamulan Festival Ethnic Street Dancing held Saturday, 03 March 2012 in the streets of this capital city of Bukidnon and the Kaamulan grounds.
Malitbog garnered the ritual where a vine is cut to first place for both the ethnic symbolize the end of tribal street danci ng tableau competition held at t he Kaamulan grounds and B e s t F lo at , and was also runner up in the showcase Ethnic Street Dancing Competition won by t he cont i ngent from Maramag. Malitbog’s troupe Dancers from the various troupes joinfeatured the ing the Kaamulan 2012 Ethnic Street Dancing do an impromptu dance atop H i g a o n o n the speakers at the Kaamulan Grounds tribe’s Piglu- Saturday, 03 March 2012 while waiting m a n a n h u for the arrival of the Keynote Spearker mga Baga ni Vice President Jejomar Binay. (Legion of PHOTO BY MIKE BAÑOS Warriors), the tribe’s traditional defenders of their feuds among warring clans. Tagbanhawan (ancestral do- The town’s prize-winning main), their Kabukalagan fl oat also featured a giant (Tribe), Nabunayan (envi- animated hawk or banog, a ronment) and Kalandang iconic figure which is predominant in Higaonon myth (Peace). Their tableau presenta- and legend. Maramag municipality tion personally led by Mayor Aida B. dela Rosa, was high- won the grand prize for the lighted by a saot (war dance) Kaamulan Festival’s showcase depicting their battle with Ethnic Street Dancing with its the dumagats (lowlanders) Lalabutan (traditional barter who wanted to exploit their of goods and foods among lands for illicit activities like the lumads) focusing on its logging, mining and land central role as the crossroads grabbing. Peace is eventually of Mindanao where travelattained through a Tam- ers from all over the island puda hu Balagun (cutting of would rest and take their the green vine), an ancient meals on flat stones along the
banks of the Pulangi river hence its name (Ag Ramag, a contraction of the Manobo expression “Ag Ramag Ki Dini” freely translated to “Let us partake of our breakfast here”). Maramag also finished second to Malitbog in the tableau presentation at the Kaamulan grounds. Finishing third for both street dancing and tableau competit ions was t he tow n of San Fernando which showc a sed the Tigwahanons’ Logtoy (Bountiful Harvest)
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—that originally inhabit the province. It is the only authentic ethnic festival in the country recognized international ally. Kaamulan comes from the Binukid word “amul” meaning to gather. Kaamulan is gathering for a purpose—a datuship ritual, a wedding, a thanksgiving during harvest time, a peace pact, or all of these together. 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 however proved very popular Quezon Municipality won 2nd and together with Place during the Kaamulan 2012 Ethnic Street Dancing Float national coverage Competition held March 3 at the Kaamulan festithe streets of Malaybalay City val has been recogand the Kaamulan Grounds of nized as the regional the Bukidnon Provincial Capitol. festival of Northern PHOTO BY MIKE BAÑOS Mindanao, by the featuring the Pamalas (a s a l o g Regional Developritual seeking blessings and t r i b e ment Council of guidance from the Almighty), o f Malitbog’s troupe featured the Higaonon tribe’s Piglu- Region 10. Kamot (cleansing the farm), Q u e - manan hu mga Bagani (Legion of Warriors), the tribe’s Kaamulan Talupak Pamugas (planting of z o n traditional defenders of their Tagbanhawan (ancestral was formerly held seeds) and the Bangkakawan town; domain), their Kabukalagan (Tribe), Nabunayan (envi- on the fi rst week of (spearfishing while awaiting September but in Ka- ronment) and Kalandang (Peace). PHOTO BY MIKE BAÑOS the harvest). 1996, it was transl i la ng The Tigwahanons (people (Festiferred to the present of the Tigwa River) are de- val for Peace) showcases the ethnic cultural festival held date to synchronize it with scended from the Proto- history of conflict, reconcili- annually in Malaybalay City, the foundation celebration Manobos and reside along the ation, and peace between the Bukidnon from the second of the province. Tigwa River and the TigwaSalug Valley in San Fernando Municipality next to Davao del Norte. They are outspoken people and are known as the traders among the Bukidnon tribes and are also found in Agusan del Sur and Misamis Occidental. Other competitors included the Pamuhat Te Haklaran of Cabanglasan municipality, 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 Matig-
Manobos and the Maranaos of Kalilangan; and the Kalagun (thanksgiving for bountiful harvest) of the Higaonons of Valencia City. Quezon municipa lit y placed second in the float competition followed by 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” (Aguy epic) epic hero of the Proto-Manobo. Choreographers of the competing groups were briefed on the changes in line with the festival’s overbearing 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
Editorial: 74-53-80, e-mail: mindanaodailynews@gmail.com • Advertising: 0917-7121424, e-mail: mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com