The season of festivals in the Philippines isn’t over yet as the City of Generals celebrate Kalilangan Festival 2013!

Kalilangan is the city’s carrier event for its Foundation Anniversary celebration showcasing the city’s history, artistry, cultural heritage and tourism potentials.

Kalilangan Festival: National Best Tourism Event 2011 & 2012

In October last year, General Santos City’s Kalilangan Festival was declared Best Tourism Event in Culture and Arts Category. This was the second time the event bagged the same award following the preceding year.

Queue of Photographers Capturing the Event

No wonder thousands of tourists flock to watch this most anticipated festivity in the tuna capital of the Philippines – General Santos City.

Kadsagayan Street Dancing Competition

The main streets of Heneral Santos are once again flooded with people, colors and festive dancers on the afternoon of February 27, 2013.

Adventuroj along with my buddies joined in the merriment with our SLRs on hand in capturing memories of this once in a lifetime event.

A little something about Kalilangan

Kalilangan is derived from the rootword “Kalilang” which typically means celebration or commemoration in the Maguindanaon dialect.

In a broader perspective, kalilang projects a positive and dynamic meaning for it engulfs the artistic, humane and altruistic aspects of social interaction that takes place in any occasion or celebration.

Kalilangan means festival, feastivity or jubilee. It is a social gathering marked by exchanging of amenities among traditional leaders, elders, allies and subordinates in varying tones.

It is also a pageantry of unique and colorful ethnic rites, rituals and traditions like marriage celebrations, religious ceremonies, anniversaries, funerals, enthronement of royal dignitaries, thanksgiving and other social forms of social, political and economic activities.

Kalilangan Festival 2013 Photos

“Kadsagayan” or the glamorous street dance parade portrays the traditional tri-people’s dances.

This year 6 participants compete for the crown. Here they are:

May your eyes enjoy the feast and parade of photos and color!

Participant No 1

Participant No 2: Sambulayang Cultural Dance Troupe of Sultan Kudarat

Participant No 3: Pedro Acharon Sr. Central Elementary School

Participant No 4: Binandisan Performing Arts Group from Maguindanao

Participant No 5: Indak Kabataan Performing Arts

Participant No 6

Now who do you think will win?

Kalilangan Festival 2013 Winners

Kadsagayan 2013 Champion

Binandisan Performing Arts Group from Buluan, Maguindanao was declared overall champion in the Kadsagayan Streetdance competition 2013 at the Oval Plaza Wednesday, February 27. The group bagged P150,000 cash, a trophy and certificate of participation.

Perfectly depicting the theme: “Tri-People in Unity, Excellence in Harmony.” among the Indigenous Peoples (IPs), Muslims and the Christian populations

Kadsagayan 2013 1st Runner-up

Contingents from Pedro Acharon Elementary School was declared 1st Runner-up. The group bagged P100,000 cash, a trophy and certificate of participation.

Kadsagayan 2013 2nd Runner-up

Contingents from General Santos City National Secondary School of Arts and Trade Indak Kabataan Performing Arts was declared 2nd Runner-up. The group bagged P75,000 cash, a trophy and certificate of participation.

Kalilangan is a noble tradition. It is a complete work of art nourished and nurtured by a rich cultural heritage that has withstand the test of time from generation to generation. Indeed a portrayal of a culture that is only in General Santos!

Until next year Kalilangan!

A Call for Kalilangan Organizers

One thing that I’ve just noticed is that although the Kalilangan Celebration is a week long event, however the Street Dancing competition, which is the highlight of the festivity, falls on a weekday, February 27, making it almost impossible for other interested tourists to be at the festival due to work constraints.

Also, the competition is set to start at 1pm.. just after lunch..

Just imagine the blazing heat of the sun that the spectators and the dancers have to endure to witness the event? Unlike most of the festivals in the Philippines that I know that starts their street dancing early in the morning or in the evening (like the Hinugyaw) to avoid getting sun burnt.

Just take a look at these dancers, in their faces reflects the heat they have to endure.