WITH the theme: "Pagbabalik Gunita sa Pitumpung Taon ng Kapayapaan, Kaunlaran at Kasiyahan," the "Generals" (as General Santos City residents proudly call themselves) are again up for weeklong festivities to mark the 2009 Kalilangan Festival, to commemorate the city's 70th Foundation Anniversary.

On Friday, thousands of Generals, led by City Mayor Pedro "Jun" Acharon, flocked to Gensan's Oval Plaza to witness the grand opening of the festival, which will culminate on February 27, the city's Foundation Day.

Valentine's 2009 blog

A colorful fireworks display later awed the crowd with children cheering and shouting with joy and excitement.

Looking at the calendar of activities during the festival, expect more fun, pageantry, and pomp with your whole family as the Generals pay tribute to their forefathers and the people responsible for the status that GenSan has achieved as a city, not only nationally, but globally.

For sure, just like the previous years, all roads once again lead to the Tuna Capital of the Philippines with people from all over Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Gen. Santos) descending upon the city to witness the cultural events and features laid out for the festival.

The anniversary celebration commemorates the landing of the city's founder, General Paulino Santos, along with the first settlers from Luzon, at the shores of Sarangani Bay.

On February 27, the Generals are expected to flock the city's major thoroughfares to witness anew the Kadsagayan, one of the highlights of the colorful 14th Kalilangan Festival.

Kadsayagan is a street dance competition starting from the historical Lion's Beach to the Oval Plaza where the final showdown is held.

Performers, representing each of the city's barangays, outwit each other in this cultural competition, showcasing marvelous performances to the delight of the crowd.

All contingents depicted the arrival on February 27, 1939 of 64 Christian settlers and 17 employees of National Land Settlement Administration led by General Paulino Santos.

Lending a colorful backdrop to this dramatization was the energetic display through reengineered dance steps and costumes of welcoming Bilaans and Maguindanaons.

Humble beginnings

Thirteen years ago, the city government, encouraged by the success of Davao's Kadayawan, Cebu's Sinulog, and Iloilo's Dinagyang, institutionalized the foundation celebration by introducing the Kalilangan Festival.

The city then appointed the Kalilangan Foundation Inc., an accredited non-governmental organization, to oversee the management of the festival.

From its humble beginnings, the city was able to hurdle the challenges that goes with a young festival.

"Year in, year out, we were able to generate an enthusiastic response not only from the local constituents but also people from other places," the energetic City Mayor Pedro "Jun" Acharon had said.

What is Kalilangan

Kalilangan is derived from the root word "kalilang" which typically means celebration or commemoration in the Maguindanaon dialect.

In a broader perspective, Kalilang projects a positive and dynamic meaning for it engulfs the artistic, humane, and altruistic aspects of social interaction that takes place in any occasion or celebration.

For 13 years now, the festival has become a social gathering marked by exchanging of amenities among traditional leaders, elders, allies, and subordinates in varying tones.

It is also a pageantry of unique and colorful ethnic rites, rituals and traditions like marriage celebrations, religious ceremonies, anniversaries, funerals, enthronement of royal dignitaries, thanksgiving and other forms of social, political and economic activities.

It is not just an economic activity, but a continuous season of merriment, gaiety, and merrymaking accentuated by sharing of gifts, traditional sports competition, dancing, singing and instrumental rendition, and other forms of exhibition games, entertainment, and amusement.

Kalilangan is also a noble tradition. It is a complete work of art nourished and nurtured by rich cultural heritage that has withstand the test of time from generation to generation.

"GenSan as our city is fondly called has shown its resiliency through the many debacles it has undergone. Being tagged as a Mindanao city surely carries a stigma of a troubled area. Despite all these, the city with the support of the different NGOs and the private sector remained focus on our goal to put our beloved city in the map of investors and tourists alike," Acharon said.

Kalilangan 2009 organizers assured the public the events and activities this year will enhance the people's awareness of the city's cultural heritage and promote an avenue for peace and unity among the constituents.