KALILANGAN FESTIVAL
General Santos City
Every 27th day of February
EACH year, General Santos City marks its foundation anniversary on February 27 with various activities culminating the weeklong celebration of Kalilangan 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.
As the "Generals" (as General Santos City residents proudly call themselves) mark Gensan's 69th Foundation Anniversary on Wednesday, they are expected to flock the city's major thoroughfares to witness anew the Kadsagayan, one of the highlights of the colorful 13th 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 others 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
Twelve 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.
Grand Opening
At the festival's grand opening on February 16, thousands of "Generals" braved the not-so-good weather to be entertained as grade school and secondary school dancers in colorful costumes performed favorite folk dances.
A colorful fireworks display later awed the crowd with children cheering and shouting with joy and excitement.
In his short message, Acharon said the celebration of the city's 69th Foundation Anniversary is another milestone in the pages of its history.
He narrated how the city's forefathers, the pioneers, transformed this barren place into a highly urbanized city and the Tuna Capital of the Philippines after 69 years.
"This did not happen overnight but through the hard work of our leaders and the cooperation of our people," he said.
"If there is peace comes development. And with development, is the opportunity for celebration in thanksgiving," he said, citing this as the reason for the festival theme: Kalinaw (peace), Kalambuan (progress), Kasadya (pageantry).
"Daghan and gusto mag-isturbo sa atong dakbayan busa gikinahanglan kita magtinabangay sa kanunay og atong ipadayon ang kasadya," he added.
Four people were killed and at least 27 others wounded when a powerful explosion rocked the gate of tuna canning plant, Philbest Canning Corp. owned by RD Group, on January 30.
The city's economy is anchored mostly on the fishing industry where officials estimate a cash circulation of about P35 million daily on fish trading alone.
Six of the eight tuna canneries in the country are located in Gensan with annual export revenues of up to $400 million.
Travel advisory
The recent bomb attack in the city prompted the regional office of the Department of Tourism to issue a travel advisory ruling out possibility of another violence to happen during the staging of the festival.
DOT- Central Mindanao Regional Director Sohura T. Dimaampao, in an advisory, enjoined everyone to witness the festival, welcoming would-be guests and visitors from anywhere in the country and elsewhere who wish to experience the cultural presentations, events, exhibits and merry-makings of the grandest fiesta in the Soccsksargen area.
Dimaampao expressed unwavering support to all festivities and undertakings in the promotion of tourism industry in the region.
The Kalilangan 2008 organizers also 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. (With reports from CPIO)
