‘Sunggod ta Kamanga’ Festival

THE municipality of Quezon in Bukidnon has celebrated the richness of the Manobo culture and tradition through the “Sunggod ta Kamanga” festival held recently.

Different activities, events and festivities were organized to showcase the lifestyle of the indigenous community in the town.

Tribal presentations depicting rituals, bountiful harvests and even their own version of beauty pageants surely entertained festival guests.

TRIBAL leaders perform a ritual as they confer the "datuship" to Department of Tourism-Northern Mindanao Director Catalino Chan III (seated). (Contributed Photo)

Every year, the Manobo tribe in Quezon town gathered for one purpose -- to identify who will be adopted to become their new tribal leader. The leaders would organize a tribal meeting and vote who will be adopted.

This year, Department of Tourism (DOT)-Northern Mindanao Director Catalino Chan III was proclaimed as the new tribal leader of the Manobos.

Chan, being one of the active leaders of the tourism industry in the country, was named Datu Makaoghop for his contribution to the tribal communities in the province.

A solemn ritual highlighted Chan’s “conversion” as a tribal leader, performed by Quezon town’s tribal chieftain.

Chan said the adaption of a new leader of the tribe is one of the highlights of “Sunggod ta Kamanga” Festival where the highest leader of the tribe identify a person who will be adopted as Datu or Bae.

Datu is a title given to the leader of a tribe and is identified as one who belong to the royalties of the tribal community while Bae is a title given to a woman who leads in the community. Usually, a Bae is the wife of a Datu who serves as the chieftain in a particular tribal village.

Nominees for the “Datu” and “Bae” title are selected based on their contribution to the tribal community.

For the indigenous people of the region, Director Chan has showered his contributions that have great impact to the tribal communities. This is the second time that he was adopted as a Datu, which aptly showed his good leadership.

Chan said he felt honored by the new name given to him by the tribal leaders which he will cherish for the rest of his life.

“This highest recognition given to me by the tribesmen will surely strengthen friendship and ties and boost the tourism industry not only in Northern Mindanao but in the country,” he said.