Alabel celebrates IP Day

ALABEL, Sarangani (September 8, 2015) - Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon dances with tribal elders, leaders of indigenous people (IP) and municipal officials Monday, September 7, during the Indigenous Peoples Day of 14th Kasadyaan Festival and 44th Foundation Anniversary of Alabel, the capital of Sarangani Province. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Sulong Tribu joins IP Day

ALABEL, Sarangani (September 8, 2015) - Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon mingles with the tribal elders, chieftains and local officials during the Indigenous Peoples Day in celebration of the 14th Kasadyaan Festival and 44th Foundation Anniversary of Alabel Monday, September 7. Solon said his program Sulong Tribu is to empower, protect, preserve and promote the resources of IPs through partnership, collaboration and skills enhancement. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Sarangani officials join folklore festival

ALABEL, Sarangani (August 27, 2015) – Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon and Vice Governor Jinkee Pacquaio dance in the stage with the Suli Di Kay Luan dancers from Malapatan Elementary School during the international folklore festival at Capitol Gym on August 17. The dance depicts the belief, ceremonies and rituals of the Blaan tradition. (Kim Tiblani/PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR'S OFFICE)

Mascots present Sulong Sarangani dance steps

ALABEL, Sarangani (August 27, 2015) – Mascots Sara and Gani introduce the dance step of Sulong Sarangani hymn during the Booklatan sa Paaralan at Barangay Bagacay on August 25. The song is used in events and social media platforms to drum up awareness and support for Sulong Sarangani, a poverty reduction program that develops, adopts, and executes strategies to uplift the quality of life of constituents. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Japanese drummers join folklore festival

ALABEL, Sarangani (August 23, 2015) - Fierce and synchronized, the Super Taiko Junior of Japan draw full attention from almost 2,500 spectators during the International Folklore Festival held at the Capitol gym on August 17. The group of Japanese drummers led by Hiro Hayashida was one of the 11 international delegations that performed in the country for the festival. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE) 

Hinugyaw dance troupe performs in Sarangani

ALABEL, Sarangani (August 23, 2015) - Koronadal’s Hinugyaw Cultural Dance Troupe showcases gracefulness in a Muslim dance Kappa Malong Malong during the International Folklore Festival held at the Capitol gym on August 17. The province was chosen as one of the hosts for the festival presenting the performances of Hinugyaw dance troupe and Super Taiko Junior of Japan. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Governor, vice governor dance with Blaan kids

ALABEL, Sarangani (August 23, 2015) - Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon and Vice Governor Jinkee Pacquaio dance with the Blaan pupils of Lun Padidu Elementary School during the International Folklore Festival on August 17 at the Capitol gym. The crowd cheered as the two officials were fetched from their seats by the kids to do Blaan dance routines. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)  

Folklore festival delegates visit Lamlifew

MALUNGON, Sarangani (August 23, 2015) - International Folklore Festival delegates pose with Bai Herminia Lacna and Fu Yabing as they visit Lamlifew Village Museum at Barangay Datal Tampal on August 18. The folklore festival aims to provide convergence among ethno-linguistic groups in the country. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE) 

Tabih weaving in Lamlifew Village Museum

MALUNGON, Sarangani (August 18, 2015) - Celebrity Dingdong Dantes, chairman of YesPinoy Foundation, watches Tabih weaving during his visit at Lamlifew Village, the country’s  Blaan school of living tradition and museum at Sitio Lamlifew in Barangay Datal Tampal on August 8. Tabih refers to the traditional handwoven Blaan tubular skirt. Dantes later launched Project 888 at the provincial gymnasium. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Lamlifew Village Museum welcomes guests

MALUNGON, Sarangani (August 18, 2015) - Celebrity and YesPinoy Foundation (YPF) chairman Dingdong Dantes takes photos of young villagers of Lamlifew Village Museum in Barangay Datal Tampal as they perform Blaan dance routines on August 8.  Dantes visited Sarangani Province to launch Project 888, a project of YPF that aims to fully fund the education of eight deserving youth scholars. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Dingdong visits Blaan school

MALUNGON, Sarangani (August 18, 2015) – Actor Dingdong Dantes, chairman of YesPinoy Foundation, mingles with the youth of Blaan community Lamlifew in Barangay Datal Tampal on August 8. Dantes also enjoyed the cultural presentation and warm welcome of the community during his arrival at Lamlifew village, site of the Blaan school of living tradition and museum. Dantes, a commissioner of the National Youth Commission, heads the YesPinoy Foundation which is a national organization that helps the youth through programs and projects. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

 

Dingdong meets Fuglung cultural master

MALUNGON, Sarangani (August 18, 2015) – Actor Dingdong Dantes, chairman of YesPinoy Foundation, beams as he poses with Blaan boat lute (Fuglong) cultural master Bai Hermania Lacna of Lamlifew Village Museum and School of Living Tradition at Sitio Lamlifew in Barangay Datal Tampal on August 8.(Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Bikes for Blaan village

MALUNGON, Sarangani (August 5, 2015) – The Lamlifew Tribal Women's Association receives 10 mountain bikes from ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. (ALKFI) through Bantay Kalikasan-Green Initiative Project. Green Initiative is a joint project of ALKFI and the provincial government in developing community-based sustainable tourism, community-based enterprise, environmental conservation and people's participation. The partnership was forged under the administration of Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon. (Ener Toguin/SULONG TRIBU)

Cultural cooks learn food handling

MALUNGON, Sarangani (August 5, 2014) – School of Living Tradition museum cooks learn the basics during a demo food cliniquing such as food presentation, table setup and food handling in Sitio Lamlifew, Datal Tampal. Other topics are good manufacturing practices for traditional food delicacies and cuisine. The training was facilitated by Gretchen Foster through the Sulong Tribu Program of the Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon. (Ener Toguin/SULONG TRIBU)

Cultural learner at SLT

MALUNGON, Sarangani (August 5, 2015) – Blaan eight-year-old Shandy Lacna is one of the 34 cultural learners of the School of Living Tradition (SLT) on traditional music and playing of musical instruments. Lacna can do chanting and play fuglong, skills she learned from her grandmother Heminia Lacna (background). The SLT is based in Sitio Lamlifew, Barangay Datal Tampal. (Ener Toguin/SULONG TRIBU)

Eid-Al-Fitr binds families

MAITUM, Sarangani (July 24, 2015) - Kids join as their families converge to celebrate Eid-Al-Fitr at the road in front of the  municipal gym on July 17. Eid-Al-Fitr is one of the major holidays of Islam which comes at the end of the holy month of Ramadan and celebrates the end of fasting. The Eid-Al-Fitr which was headed by Mayor Pepito Catimbang was participated in by over 500 members of Muslim families and clans. (Joylyn Ty/MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE)

Eid-Al-Fitr celebration in Maitum

MAITUM, Sarangani (July 24, 2015) - Muslim families and clans gather together as they celebrate Eid-Al-Fitr at the road in front of the municipal gym on July 17. The Eid-Al-Fitr celebration which was headed by Mayor Pepito Catimbang was participated in by over 500 members of Muslim families. (Joylyn Ty/MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE) 

Families celebrate Eid-al-Fitr

MAITUM, Sarangani (July 24, 2015) - A toddler waits as her family offers Eid prayers during Eid-al-Fitr celebration in front of the Maitum municipal gym on July 17. (Joylyn Ty/MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE)

Street dance winners

KIAMBA, Sarangani (February 18, 2015) – Street dancers from JBT Caing Sr. Memorial Integrated School perform during the culmination of the 11th Timpuyog Festival and 67th Foundation Anniversary of Kiamba to win 2nd place in the street dance competition. (Ruel D. Ampatin/KIAMBA INFO CENTER)

Maitum showcases longest bangsi grill

MAITUM, Sarangani (January 30, 2015) – Nineteen long grills, or one from each barangay, and more than 5,000 pieces of bangsi (flying fish) were grilled for thousands of people Friday (January 30).

The Bangsi Festival of Maitum is the only fete here in Sarangani Province that showcases the wealth of its waters through a public grilling.

And in the 8th Bangsi Festival, these flying fishes were set free, already grilled.  

The public grill was held at the center of the municipal park of Maitum.

Claimed as the “longest bangsi grill in the Philippines”, this festivity can serve as a strong magnet for tourism here in Sarangani.

This festival is still young compared to the more established fish-themed celebrations such as the Tuna Festival of General Santos City. But it seems that Bangsi Festival is gaining some piece of the tourism pie.

In fact, in her speech during the culmination activity of Bangsi Festival, tourism regional director Nelly Nita Dillera said that Maitum is the contributor to the total tourist arrival in Sarangani for the year 2014.

Tourists can also try white water tubing and visit the pawikan sanctuary here.

Dillera said Sarangani Province had 643,729 visitors in 2014. The biggest contributor here is Glan, perhaps for its stunning white sand beaches in Gumasa. Gumasa hosts Sarangani Bay Festival, the biggest beach party in Mindanao, each May.

And for the entire Region 12, the total number of tourists in 2014 was 2,389,000.

Sarangani contributes roughly 27% of the tourist arrivals in the region last year. Statistically, that is a significant figure.

The Bangsi Festival can play a major part in the tourism drive not only of Maitum, but of the entire Sarangani and SOCSKSARGEN (Region 12) as well.

As for Maitum locals, they believe that Bangsi Festival will stay.

There are 600 tons of bangsi that land in Maitum annually.

Novie Razul, a resident of Barangay Old Poblacion, said bangsi fishing has supported her family for many years already.

“Fishing is our only livelihood and without bangsi, our income will not suffice to support my family. My husband and his brothers are fishermen while I process their catch to marinated bangsi,” Razul said.

“The peak season of bangsi is from January to March and then October to December. During the lean months, we catch tuna,” she added. (MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE)