KAAMULAN FESTIVAL
Kaamulan Festival is an ethnic cultural festival held annually in
Malaybalay City, Bukidnon from the second half of February to
March 10, the anniversary date of the foundation of Bukidnon as a
province in 1917. It is held to celebrate the culture and tradition of the
seven ethnic tribal groups—Bukidnon, Higaonon, Talaandig, Manobo,
Matigsalug, Tigwahanon and Umayamnon—that originally inhabit the
province. It is the only ethnic festival in the Philippines.
Kaamulan comes from the Binukid word amul meaning
to gather. Kaamulan is gathering for a purpose—a
datuship ritual, a wedding ceremony, a thanksgiving
festival during harvest time, a peace pact, or all of these
together.
Kaamulan started as a festival on May 15, 1974,during
the fiesta celebration of the then municipality of
Malaybalay. A town official thought of inviting some
indigenous people to town and made them perform a
few dance steps at Plaza Rizal to enliven the fiesta
celebration.The celebration however proved very popular
and together with national coverage the Kaamulan festival
has become the regional festival of Northern Mindanao,
as declared by the Regional Development Council of
Region 10 on September 16, 1977. Kaamulan was formerly
held on the first week of September but in 1996, it was
transferred to the present date to synchronize it with the
foundation celebration of the province.
* history *
Late 1960s-Early 1970s – Several efforts were made by different
individuals in the province to organize a celebration to honor the
contribution of the indigenous peoples of Bukidnon to the culture of
Bukidnon. Some organize celebrations in Barangay Kalasungay in Malaybalay.
May 15, 1974 – Kaamulan was conceptualized by the Vice Mayor of the then
municipality of Malaybalay, Mr. Edilberto Mamawag who invited some indigenous
Bukidnon tribespeople during the celebration of the town fiesta in honor of
Bukidnons Patron Saint San Isidro Labrador. Mamawag thought that few dance
steps by the natives at Plaza Rizal would enliven the fiesta-goers.
September 16, 1977 – Kaamulan was adopted as the regional festival of Northern
Mindanao through a Regional Development Council resolution.
November 25–27, 1977 – The first organized Kaamulan Festival was held in
the province of Bukidnon and sponsored by the provincial government. Marks the
formal establishment of the festival in the province.
1978-1998 – Kaamulan was held every first Friday of September.
1999 – Date of Kaamulan was moved from September to the second half of February up to
March 10, the Foundation Day celebration of the Province of Bukidnon.
2002 – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo graced the
celebration, where several native women dressed on her in
an ethnic costume. First Kaamulan Off-Road Challenge and
First Kaamulan Invitational Shoot Fest were added to the
activities of the festival.Bansagen, an exhibit of Bukidnon
contemporary art done by a group of Bukidnon-based artists,
was done for the first time.
2006 – The First National Folklore Conference was held in consonance with the
celebration of the Kaamulan Festival. An indigenous song writing clinic for students
and the general public was held. The champion for the street dancing competition is
the municipality of Malitbog.
2007 – Marks the 30th year celebration by the province of the Kaamulan Festival from
its formal date of establishment (1977). Theme of the celebration is Spiritual
Awakening. Also marks the 90th Foundation Day celebration of the province of
Bukidnon. The municipality of Kibawe won the street dancing competition, followed
by Talakag and Malaybalay City. Kitaotao won the Float Competition, followed by
Kadingilan and Kibawe.