Festivals

AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO FESTIVALS

ALIWAN FESTIVAL

                An Annual festival held at Star City Complex, Pasay City. This activity gathers different cultural festival in the country where contingents competes in Dance Parade, Float Competition and Beauty Pageant. This event begun in 2003, dubbed, “Mother of all Festival” aimed to showcase the richness of different Filipino cultures and heritage to the rest of the world. Consequently, the contingent aims to promote their respective regions economy and tourism pride. The event is organized by Manila Broadcasting Company and Cultural Center of the Philippines.

PHILIPPINE TRAVEL MART

                This enables all regions in the country to showcase their tourism products and services. Likewise, many regions has to promote its existing and potential tourist destinations. Potential tourism areas will be showcased to attract tourist investors to develop the areas. Region will have chance to display and exhibit their tourism products and services so they can invite more tourist to come in the areas. Thus, ARMM participation is imperative to showcase its own tourism wealth and rich cultural heritage.

MEGUYAYA FESTIVAL (Upi, Maguindanao-December 19)

                The term is a Teduray word meaning ‘Merrymaking and Thanksgiving” This is a universal expression of thanksgiving for the triumphs, abundance, prosperity or any form of blessing recievd. The word in a multi-cultural society wherein different expressions or way of thanksgiving and merrymaking practices are recognized and honored. Amidst Upi’s triumphs, abundance and prosperity is the conceptualization of Meguyaya Festival, Upians’ way of expressing gratitude for all the bounties. Meguyaya is a three-week celebration which culminates every 22^nd of December.

                Meguyaya Festival was conceptualized sometime in 2004 purposely to help boost the Tourism program of the municipality, and to serve as a window to showcase the economic potential of the area such as; pleasant climate all year round, wide agricultural lands, built-up areas, open grass land, forest land fall, caves, manmade, lake springs, rivers and creeks; Marine and mineral products; agricultural products, particularly corn, palay.

KARIYALA FESTIVAL (Wao, Lanao Del Sur) (February 22)

             Kalilang and Kariyala both mean “merrymaking and thanksgiving” This universal expression of thanksgiving for the triumphs, abundance, prosperity or any form of blessings received. The celebration of this is festival are similar to Lami- Lamihan of Lamitan, Basilan and Meguyaya of Upi, Maguindanao.

KALILANG SA RANAO (Marawi City) (April 15)

            A festival commemorating the charter anniversary celebration of Marawi City Highlights of the festival are Qur’an Reading Contest, presentation of colorful Muslim songs and dances, Islamic Quiz Bee, exhibits of Maranao crafts, native delicacies, traditional games and musical instruments competition.

            

LAMI-LAMIHAN FESTIVAL  (LAMITAN, BASILAN) (June 26-27)

              A Lami- Lamihan  is a yakan word means merrymaking, started in 1983, a yearly festival celebrated un the town of Lamitan in Basilan province and showcases the traditional Yakan customs and traditions, music, dances, and crafts that has long been preserved.

             Celebration of the event rekindles the native Yakans culture and diversity; the gentle people of province of Basilan south of the Philippines Townspeople are dressed in colorful costumes take part in horse races, parades, and other activities.

SEAWEED FESTIVAL (Bongao, Tawi-Tawi) (September 25)

             This Festival is also called Agal- agal Festival (local name for carrageen seaweed), Thanks

giving festivity for its good harvest (similar to Meguyaya). This week-long festivity is celebrated every forth week of September showcasing the region’s economic potentials, culture, costums and tradition; with like activities such as; street Dancing Parade and field demonstration; Trade fair, Regatta; Cultural Night Presentation; Beauty Pageant; Environment Protection and Conservation Forum; and to capped with is the conduct of business matching with ASEAN countries.

SHEIK KARIMUL MAKDUM FESTIVAL (Simunul, Tawi-Tawi) (November 07)

             Sheik Karimul Makhdum Festival is celebrated in commemoration for his good deeds for bringing Islam to the land. Sheik Karimul Makhdum is a 13^th century Muslim missionary from Malaysia who established the first mosque in the Philippines; the mosque is located in Tubig Indangan, Simunul,   Tawi-Tawi.

  

            Sheik Karimul Makhdum festival is a display of Muslim religion, culture and tradition, similar to Shariff Kabunsuan Festival. This festivity is a very popular among foreign and local tourists.

SHARIFF KABUNSUAN FESTIVAL (Maguindanao) (December 19)

            Shariff Kabunsuan Festival is a very significant event not only to Maguindanao people Cotabato City and Region XII but to the whole Muslim Mindanao. This colorful festival is a commemoration of the arrival of an Arab-Malay missionary from Johore, Malaysia in the 16^th century, landed along the banks of pulangi now known as Rio Grande de Mindanao. Shariff Kabunsuan introduced Islam to the natives, which lead to the established of the Sultanates of Maguindanao, Rajah Buayan and Kabuntalan.  

LAMI-LAMIHAN FESTIVAL Philippines Travel has arranged, complied and organised an online information and resources about Philippines feasts and festivals monthly celebrations. LAMI-LAMIHAN FESTIVAL 2nd or 3rd Week of april - Lamitan, Basilan A yearly festival coinciding with the founding of Lamitan Municipality; showcases the traditional Yakan customs and traditions, music and dances, and traditional crafts.

Lami-lamihan Festival – rekindles the native Yakans culture and diversity

December 31, 2008 by admin  
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The Festival
A yearly festival celebrated n the town of Lamitan in Basilan Province and showcases the traditional Yakan customs and traditions, music, dances, and crafts that has long been preserved.
Celebration of the event rekindles the native Yakans culture and diversity, the gentle people of province of Basilan, south of the Philippines. Townspeople are dressed in colorful costumes take part in horse races, parades, and other activities.
The perplexed Yakan hand-woven fabric symbolizes these people of unique culture of the Basileños that goes along with the challenges of global modernity.
The festival brings to completion with tradtional display of skills in Yakan music, games, and Yakan hand-weaving competition. Authentic Yakan rituals are publicly displayed the next day – the peggunting or baptism, pegtimbang or weighing, magtammat or graduation, and the pegkawin, the Yakan wedding as the main attraction. It has been a tradition that these competition and activities be distinguished as the highlight of the festival, sharing to the world the rich culture of the Yakans.
It may be obvious to notice during the festival that elder competitors of the traditional musical instrument competition are dominant in numbers, although young maidens participate in the weaving competition of yakan.
Origin
Started in 1983, Lami-lamihan Festival has since held annually. The incumbent official of the city inherit the tradition from the former mayor and the and the present mayor’s uncle and continues to enrich the festival by showcasing and preserving the Yakan traditions.
Facilities, amenities and attractions for tourists, livelihood assistance for the locals, new commercial centers, transport terminal, road repairs and construction, and a RORO seaport are among the infrastractures the city offers for the visitors’ comfort during the event.
The Scoop
A Yakan word the means merrymaking, Lamitan is also derived from Lami-lamihan. Among th seven municipalities of the island-province, Lamitan is along Isabela, Maluso, Sumisip, Lantwan, Tipo-tipo, and Tuburan.
In Succession
Lami-lamihan Festival today may seem predominantly populated by Christians, probably since the apporval of the great Datu Kalun of the Yakan Tribe  in the 1800s. Chrisians and Yakans proverbially laying out red carpet and warm hospitality for spectators who will come and visit the annual Lami-lamihan Festival in the renowned Lamitan town of Basilan.
Regatta de Lamitan kicks off at the municipal port in the morning followed by a fluvial parade, motocross and mountain bike racing, tennis tournament, fun run and agro-ethnic fairs.
Aside from the mentioned activities, the festival features cultural performances that showcases the tribal arts and dances of Yakans. Also beauty pageant is held in the evening.
Other activities include street dancing contest, presentations of culture and religion, Miss Gay Lami-lamihan, traditional games, boxing and other sports, and on the final day, the feast of town’s patron, St. Peter.