AS I watched before the performers of this year’s Indak-Sayaw sa Sambuokan, I was taken back to my elementary days when I joined the same street dancing competition. Joining these competitions was never easy - time, energy, and full commitment are required, not to mention performing your best under the scorching heat of the sun on the city’s main streets and countless long hours of practice after class.
With this, I salute all the participants, trainers, teachers, and including parents as the act itself of joining the festivities just to give the city a show that it deserves is but a winning move.
The city was filled with colors and smiles on October 28, 2018 as thousands gathered together to celebrate the culmination of this year’s celebration at the Mati City Park and Baywalk. It was a realization of the festival’s true meaning – solidarity and unity amid diverse cultures.
Mati City Mayor Carlo Rabat emphasized in his speech that the diverse yet vibrant culture that makes Mati dynamic, fast growing, and competitive city can be attributed to the contributions made by the city’s government sector, private partners, indigenous tribes, and the lumads, as well as those from interracial marriages, and immigrants.
“Our Sambuokan Festival has always been successful through the cooperation of all Matinians,” he said.
Sambuokan was derived from a Mandaya term “sambuok” which means oneness or unity.
The winners of the street dancing competition are Mati National Comprehensive High School (MNCHS) (Secondary category) and Benito Garcia Rabat Executive Elementary School (Elementary category). MNCHS was also this year’s Kadayawan Festival champion.
Apart from the must-see Indak-Sayaw sa Sambuokan event, this year’s festivities was made more special with relevant activities that were pulled off successfully. These are: Kasadya sa Baywalk Voice It Out; Power Dance Competition; expanded accredited sports events such as the Under 17 Volleyball Tournament, United Basketball League Mindanao Championship, Extreme Sports Showdown for BMX and Skateboarding, and Sambuokan Beach Volleyball; Tribes Cultural Night; Baywalk Fair of Bonsai and Floriculture exhibits; LGBT Night; Pagkila- 3rd Pasidungog Awards; and the Concert for A Cause featuring TopS Suzara of Freestyle by Oriental Pacific Business Chamber.
For 18 years, Sambuokan Festival has been a much anticipated event in the city and with how the celebration turned out this year, it will surely be more exciting in the years to come.