MEDIA RELEASE

March 2011

Street theater rules Bukidnon’s Kaamulan Festival

Instead of the usual parade through the streets, the provincial government of

Bukidnon took its recent Kaamulan Festival celebrations up a notch with a vibrant ethnic

street theater competition, in addition to other colorful offerings.

Performing to the lively beat of drums, eight municipalities from the province

brought to life local legends of the seven indigenous peoples in the area – the Bukidnon,

Higaonon, Talaandig, Manobo, Matigsalug, Tigwahanon and Umayamnon – as they made

their way downtown in Malaybalay City during the festival highlight.

The Kaamulan Festival derives its name from the word amul, a Bukidnon term that

signifies any form of gathering. Today, it is an almost month-long celebration of culture,

touted as the only authentically ethnic festival in the Philippines.

The festival, first adopted by Northern Mindanao as a regional event in 1977, prides

itself for showcasing genuine costumes and rituals as performed by the indigenous

peoples themselves. The same offers visitors the chance to immerse in the local culture

through dance clinics and ritual demonstrations.

Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination and Resource Generation Ma.

Victoria V. Jasmin, who graced the festivities on behalf of the Department of Tourism

(DOT), said Bukidnon has great potential for agri-tourism and ecotourism opportunities.
 “There is a very beautiful festival here, but we have to promote tourism year-round

so its benefits will not be seasonal,” she observed. Agricultural fairs and garden and

livestock shows were among the festival’s well-attended activities.

Bukidnon is home to vast pineapple plantations for which the province is famous, as

well as Asia’s longest dual zipline at the Dahilayan Adventure Park, both in the municipality

of Manolo Fortich. Other points of interest include the Benedictine Monastery of the

Transfiguration in San Jose, Malaybalay City, which houses an exquisite 50-piece

handcrafted vestment collection, and various sites for hiking and river rafting.

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Performers give a preview of the sights and sounds of Bukidnon's Kaamulan Festival during a
cultural night for VIPs.

CONTACT: EVELYN A. MACAYAYONG

Office of Tourism Information
525-18-05