The Araguaney tree blooming with vibrant yellow leaves behind me provided an atmospheric prelude to what I was about to witness. As the marching drums of the twelve participating contingents in the street dancing competitions started to pound foot-stomping beats, I could feel the vibe of the Kaamulan Festival becoming increasingly electrifying.
Witnessing the Ethnic Kaamulan Festival in Malaybalay, Bukidnon
Celebrating the indigenous culture of Bukidnon, the festival highlighted dynamic enactments from the province’s seven ethnic groups—the Manobo, Higaonon, Bukidnon, Talaandig, Umayamnon, Matigsalug, and Tigwahanon—into a massive annual occurrence showcasing their ancestral traditions, sacred rituals, and historical ways of life.
The Only Authentic Ethnic Festival in the Philippines
First celebrated in 1974, the Kaamulan Festival had become one of Mindanao’s most significant cultural revelries. Kaamulan originated from the Binukid word “amul,” which translated directly to “to gather,” therefore ringing true to the festival's constant gathering of the seven distinct ethnic groups of Bukidnon.
That unique configuration made it the single truly authentic ethnic festival in the Philippines, according to local organizers and cultural heritage advocates who protected the mountain province's lineages.
Romping Stomping Street Dance Parade
As the morning sun sheened the stretch of the Sayre Highway, where I had joined a multitude of people eagerly waiting for the parade to start, I caught a glimpse of the colorful contingents from a distance. Wanting to probe closer, I walked toward them and came face-to-face with a diverse and vibrant set of performing delegations—all ready to rock the town while adorned in their colorful traditional costumes.
It quickly dawned on me that there was much more to the experience than the romping, stomping drumbeats and captivating street dances; the participants were also exhibiting their fine artistry, perfected across generations, through the intricate and symbolic creation of their clothes.
In each aesthetic element covering their bodies—from the detailed headwear and handcrafted clothing designed with flamboyant cross-stitching patterns to the distinctive brass accessories—one could see the immense amount of artisanship they applied to showcase their tribal culture through a grand presentation and visual feast.
With explicit permission from the indigenous elders of the seven ethnic groups of Bukidnon, sacred dances depicting various ways of life, defense rituals, and cultural practices were performed, accompanied by traditional instrumentation. The performers soon filled much of the Sayre Highway with a sparkling wave of spectacles.
The street parade lasted from sunrise until mid-morning, when the twelve contingents reached the stadium grounds of Malaybalay to compete in the final category: the best in ground presentation. The performers from Malaybalay City were ultimately adjudged the champions of the Street Dancing category, while the contingent from the municipality of Pangantucan bagged the hard-fought Ground Presentation trophy.
The Marriage of Agyu and Tagyakuwa
The Kaamulan Festival was far more than just a street dancing parade; it functioned as a multi-day folk celebration aiming to promote deep intercultural understanding. The night before the grand street parade, we watched an immersive cultural presentation depicting an epic folk tale of the Talaandig and Manobo peoples.
The theatrical staging of Ulaging: The Marriage of Agyu and Tagyakuwa recounted the journey to immortality of Bukidnon's primary cultural hero, Agyu, and his marriage to Tagyakuwa. That fascinating Mindanaoan legend was narrated beautifully through the graceful choreography of the Bukidnon State University Dance Troupe and a poignant vocal performance by the members of the Bukidnon State University Chorale.
Kaamulan Festival: More than Just a Merriment
After witnessing how several prominent festivals across the Philippines had completely surrendered to the euphoric pull of commercial mass tourism, I found the Kaamulan Festival to be a refreshing anomaly that remained entirely true to its roots: that of highlighting and safeguarding the living culture of its original indigenous communities.
Feeling incredibly fortunate to have witnessed the Kaamulan Festival firsthand, I not only returned home with poignant memories of enchanting dance performances, but I also amassed a wealth of structural knowledge regarding the rich traditions, storied history, and ancestral way of life protected by the magnificent seven ethnic groups of Bukidnon.
Kaamulan Festival Cultural Profile
This article first appeared on the print pages of the Daily Tribune on June 29, 2018.
