by Beverly Paoyon
Sarangani’s MunaTo Festival this year is aimed at the promotion of its cultural heritage, tourism potentials as well as the best practices, experiences and developments reaped over the 17 years since it was created in 1992.
Michelle Solon, president of Sarangani Tourism Industry Association (SARTIA), said activities lined up, like the tribal mass wedding and the inter-dialogue among Lumads (indigenous people), Muslims and Christians, would wrap up the concept of culture and heritage which Sarangans proclaim as the “pride of tri-people.”
MunaTo is a Blaan word that means “first people.”
Solon said this year’s celebration will “bring in and drive interest of people towards Sarangani. Ano ba ang Sarangani? Ano ba ang pagkakilala ng tao ng Sarangani? What we boast of is our culture.”
Solon estimates more or less 60 percent of the province’s population is comprises of Lumads and Muslims. “It’s more than our immigrants, so ang pride natin is our heritage,” she said, thereby relating it to the discovery of 2000-year old anthropomorphic jars in Maitum which reveals that “community life started in Sarangani.”
After the Tabon man, she said, “are the anthropomorphic jars. So, we are like a link to the past and also we are looking forward to the future and this festival shows ‘yun ang kagandahan ng Sarangan, ang kagalingan ng Sarangan, ang uniqueness ng Sarangan at ito ngayon ang gusto nating ipakita sa buong mundo.”
Solon reported that tourism arrivals increase every year. On MunaTo festival monitoring alone, last year posted around 17,000, a significant increase compared to the previous year which was estimated at only 5,000.
SARTIA spearheads the MunaTo Festival this year. It is an all-private sector participated group whose businesses are in Sarangani.
Solon said, “Talagang kitang-kita ng lahat na ang private sector is very supportive in pushing Sarangani tourism. Nasa puso talaga namin kasi it affects the businesses and the tourism establishments.”
“This is one way of attracting more tourists, so, talagang we are very supportive of the government’s efforts to push the tourism industry of Sarangani.”
Preparations for the festival by the various event organizers are now in place for the week-long celebration to start on November 23 and culminates on November 28.
Other activities are cultural shows, street dancing competitions, showcasing of products from each municipality, concerts and street party and fireworks display. [Beverly Paoyon/SIO]
