Munato means “first people”

By SERAFIN RAMOS JR.

ALABEL, Sarangani (November 25, 2013) - Sarangani’s first Munato Festival was celebrated in November 2002 coinciding with the province’s 10th Foundation Anniversary (November 28).

Former Governor Priscilla L. Chiongbian, who served three terms until 2001, was the first governor of Sarangani. Her husband, the late Congressman James L. Chiongbian, is the province’s “founding father.”

In 1992, Sarangani was carved out from South Cotabato where Congressman Chiongbian represented the third district which is now Sarangani.

This year, Sarangani celebrates from November 27 to December 6 with the theme “History, Culture and Resources!”

“These and more highlight the celebration of the 21^st Foundation Anniversary and 11^th Munato Festival,” said Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon, a grandson of the former governor and the late congressman.

President Benigno Aquino III has declared November 28 as a special (non-working) day throughout the province.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the Province of Sarangani be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” Aquino said in Proclamation No. 683.

In Blaan dialect, Munato means “first people.”  

According to the Provincial Tourism Council in 2002, Munato Festival was dedicated to the undying spirit “of those who drove the first nails” and “those who dared first” to jumpstart Sarangani’s independence from South Cotabato.

The tribal council defined Munato not only to refer to the “first people” but to their tools, musical instruments and other materials they used to defend themselves as well.

The “first people” also refers to people who had lived around Pinol Cave in Maitum where hundreds of anthropomorphic jars were recovered.

Known as the “Maitum Jars”, the artifacts were found by Dr. Eusebio Dizon of the National Museum with the help of Moro National Liberation Front commander Ayub Mindog.

Dizon said the anthropomorphic secondary burial jars now displayed at the National Museum were discovered in 1991 at Pinol Cave.

The anthropomorphic potteries of human figures depicting various facial expressions are associated to the Metal Age in the Philippines.

Dizon described Pinol Cave as “the most significant cave in Mindanao” and its finds as “unparalleled in Southeast Asia.”

Potsherds from various ages likely 3000 years old had also been recovered at Linao Cave, barangay Kiambing, also in Maitum.

Dizon said the Pinol and Linao finds could provide significant information and material evidence to trace not only Philippine prehistory but also that of Southeast Asia. (Serafin Ramos Jr./SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)