The Araguaney tree
blooming with yellow leaves behind me provided a vibrant prelude to what I was
about to witness. As the marching drums of the twelve participating contingents
in the street dance competitions, starts to pound foot stomping beats, I can
feel the vibe of Kaamulan Festival becoming more electrifying.
Celebrating the indigenous
culture of Bukidnon, the festival highlights the dynamic enactments from the
province’s seven ethnic groups; Manobo,
Higaonon, Bukidnon, Talaandig, Umayamnon, Matigsalug and the Tigwahanon – into a yearly occurrence
showcasing their traditions, rituals and way of life.
The Only Ethnic Festival in the Philippines
First celebrated in 1974,
the Kaamulan Festival has now become one of Mindanao’s biggest cultural revelry. Kaamulan comes
from the Binukid word “amul”, which
is translated into “to gather”,
therefore ringing true to Kaamulan Festival’s constant gathering of the seven
ethnic groups of Bukidnon.
This unique set-up makes
it as the only ethnic festival in the Philippines, according to organizers and
heritage advocates.
Romping Stomping Street Dance Parade
As the morning sun sheens
the stretch of Sayre Highway, where I joined a multitude of people eagerly
waiting for the parade to start, I caught a glimpse of the colorful contingents
from a distance away. Wanting to probe closely, I walked towards them and came
face to face with a sundry and vibrant sets of performing delegations – all
ready to rock the place while adorned in their colorful traditional costumes.
It dawned on me that there
is more to the romping stomping drum beats and captivating street dances, as
the participants are also exhibiting their fine artistry perfected from past
generations, through the intricate creations of their clothes.
Each aesthetic seen
covering their bodies, from headwear to handcrafted clothing designed with
flamboyant cross-stitching patterns to the distinctive accessories, you could
see the amount of artisanship they applied to showcase their tribal culture –
through a pomp presentation and visual feast.
With permission from the
indigenous elders of the seven ethnic groups of Bukidnon, sacred dances depicting
the various way of life, rituals and cultural practices, were performed accompanied
by traditional music. The performers soon filled much of Sayre highway with a
sparkling wave of spectacle.
The street parade lasted
from sunrise to mid-morning until the twelve contingents reached the stadium
grounds of Malaybalay, where they competed for the other category; the best in
ground presentation.
The performers from
Malaybalay were adjudged as the champion for the Street Dancing category while
the contingent from the municipality of Pangantucan bagged the Ground
Presentation trophy.
The Marriage of Agyu and Tagyakuwa
The Kaamulan Festival is more than
just the street dance parade, it is a multi-day folk celebration aiming to
promote the understanding of diverse cultures. The night before the grand
street parade, we watched a cultural presentation depicting an epic folk tale
of the Talaandig and Manobo people. The Ulaging: The Marriage of Agyu and Tagyakuwa recounts the journey to
immortality of Bukidnon's cultural hero Agyu, and his marriage to Tagyakuwa. This fascinating Mindanaoan legend was narrated
through the graceful dance choreography of the Bukidnon State University Dance
Troupe and a poignant musical performance by the members of the Bukidnon State
University Chorale.
Kaamulan Festival: More than Just a Merriment
After witnessing how some
of the festivals all over the Philippines have surrendered to the euphoric pull
of mass revelry, I find the Kaamulan Festival as remaining true to its roots; of
showcasing the rich culture of its original indigenous people. Feeling
fortunate to witness the Kaamulan Festival I not only returned home with
poignant memories of enchanting dance performances, because I also amassed a
wealth of knowledge about the rich culture, storied history and the way of life
of the magnificent seven ethnic groups of Bukidnon.
