Tales and lots of fun around Sarangani Bay

By BEVERLY C. PAOYON and RUSSTUM G. PELIMA

 

GUMASA, Sarangani (May 17, 2013) – In some ordinary days, secluded resorts fronting Sarangani Bay in Gumasa, Glan are yet among the best options in Southern Mindanao to laze away from a hectic city life.

 

What makes it a perfect hideaway especially for romantic couples is the fact of being just there -- sitting next to your beloved towards dusk mesmerized by the setting sun slowly painting the skies in transcending colors of pink, orange and gold illuminating the waters beneath.

 

It’s placid. Only the ripples of unfurling waters and the oozing sea breeze are usually quite noticeable.

 

The waters are pristine and the long stretch of powdery white sand just matches the view of the bay and the shores that are lined with coconut trees and native cottages.

 

Relaxing!

 

But soon enough, just before this summer season ends, this place will be crowd-filled kicking up one’s heels for the biggest beach party in the South. Attendance was pegged at 57,000 in last year’s Sarangani Bay Festival (SarBay Fest) and organizers said they are expecting more people this May 24 and 25, 2013.

 

Sailboats, banana boats and other water sports like jetski, kayak and skimboard are just few of those stuffs to enjoy with.

 

SarBay this year will start-off with the usual 15-kilometer swim-across-the-bay and a funrun for the environment. The rest of the two days will be packed with crowd-drawing beach sports activities, concerts and sunset-to-sunrise parties.

 

SarBay could be among the grandest beach festivals in the country as well.

 

Unlike the famous Boracay, Gumasa (pop. 2,792) is a secluded spot situated at the southern tip of the Philippine map yet with so much natural beauty. This place is truly breathtaking!

 

In its foreground is the historic Sarangani Bay whose legends about its origin are spread through word of mouth by generations. This is where Sarangani province and the nearby island municipality were named after.

 

Sarangani Bay was also believed to have been named after a famous Sangil voyager – Saranganing, who came from the coast of Indonesia and traded with the great Sultanate of Buayan, which is now General Santos City.

 

But the mystery of its tale lingers due to various versions.

 

According to Elias Colano, the oldest man alive that Sarangani Information Office interviewed in Balut Island in 2006, “there were two big men who rivaled for a princess” long time ago whose names were Saramanggi and Marama.

 

Colano narrated: “Because Saramanggi and Marama were eager to win the princess, these two big men fought. Saramanggi picked up a giant clamshell in his hand and cast it on Marama, but did not hit him. The giant shell landed on a mountain. The angered Marama retaliated and took half of the giant shell and threw it back to Saramanggi, but also missed.”

 

Colano said that in order to maintain their dignity as noble warriors of the tribe, “the two men resolved their rivalry to a diving match where the first to get the bigger fish from the sea wins the princess’ hand.

 

“Saramanggi dived first, but Marama stabbed him with a pointed bamboo (bangkaw) and killed him. Saramanggi’s blood surged over the sea as a rock began to grow from his corpse,” said Colano. “These are now called the Sarangani Island and Sarangani Bay in honor of the noble man.”

 

Another legend, as recorded by the municipal government of Sarangani (Davao del Sur), refers to Sarangani and Balut as brothers.

 

Balut, a homebody, was the favorite of his mother. Sarangani on the other hand was an adventurer who sailed to other places and barter.

 

Balut died in the island while Sarangani, having gone to places by sea and became known to many, died in some place unknown. And so the bay was named after him.

 

One more legend also explains the beginning of a place by etymology where the name Sarangani was not ascribed to a person.

 

The Colano clan in Balut island who are the direct descendants of the first Sangil Sultan in Balut -- Sultan Panurat -- believes that the name referred to a place.

 

When their family was fleeing the northern part of Indonesia from the dominion of the Dutch in the mid 14th century, “our forefathers were asked where they were going, they said Sarangine,” according to 80-year old Casili Tabi.

 

Sarangine, according to Tabi, means “This is our territory” or “We stop here.”

 

“This was recorded by the chroniclers of (Ruy Lopez de) Villalobos who docked here for more than six months in 1543 in search for provisions as Sarangani, because of the sound,” claimed Sangil Datu Osmeña Salisipan. For more news and updates, please visit the <a href= http://www.sarangani.gov.ph/ > Province of Sarangani </a>. Come and enjoy SarBay Fest in Gumasa on May 24-25, 2013. (Beverly C. Paoyon and Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)