All is set for Kaamulan Festival 2013

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon -- The province of Bukidnon, known as Mindanao’s food basket, is primed and ready for this year’s Kaamulan Festival with big events to be featured on a grand scale.

The soft opening, which was held in February 18, kicked off with the traditional “pamuhat” (ritual) dedicated to the “Magbabaya” (deity) for a bounty harvest.

The grand opening of this year’s Kaamulan Festival will be held today, February 22, while the much-awaited ethnic street dance competition is set in March 2.

The traditional "Provincial Cultural Festival" like cultural offering, tribal sports, Kaamulan ethno-cultural race and ethnic mass wedding will run from Feb. 18 to March 10.

Other events in the festival include Kaamulan Rodeo, livestock and poultry show, agri-fair, flower garden show, foodfest and Kaamulan bazaar displaying indigenous products made in Bukidnon.

Joe-an Bayona-Henderin, Bukidnon tourism officer, said this year’s festival will be grander in terms of events and activities as there are added tourist attractions like the Kaamulan Adventure Race and Mount Kitanglad Climb.

Henderin said Mt. Kitanglad Natural Park in Bukidnon is one of the famous heritage parks in Asia declared by the United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organization (Unesco).

Moto trail challenge and off-road challenge, wall climb competition, mountain bike race, drum and lyre competition, football festival, ethnic music and dance clinic, school band competition, "Laga ta Bukidnon (Bb. Bukidnon)" search, "Piniliyapan hu Bukidnon (a glimpse of Bukidnon)" and the night of music with Bukidnon artists from the seven ethnic groups will highlight the month-long event.

Kaamulan is a yearly gathering and thanksgiving of Bukidnon’s seven ethnic tribes: Higaonon, Talaandig, Manobo, Matigsalug, Tigwahanon, Umayamnon and Bukidnon. (PR)