Mindanao, particularly General Santos City in Sarangani Province will host the 1st Budayaw Festival slated on September 20 to 24, the Mindanao Development Authority said.
Speaking before reporters during the regular Kapehan in Habi at Kape in Abreeza Mall, Davao City on Wednesday, Jimmy Musa of International Relations Division of MinDA, said the upcoming event will gather around 300 cultural masters and artists from the member-nations of BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area).
The 1st Budayaw Festival is a major project of the National Commission on Culture and Arts in partnership with MinDA, he added.
“This will be a multi-dimensional and multi-disciplinary festival for five days. The event is also in time with the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Association of South East Asian Nations,” Musa said.
The festival, he added, will primarily highlight the cultural diversity and promote the rich heritage and culture of the member-nations of BIMP-EAGA.
The gathering is also aimed to harness greater understanding and solidarity among the multi-cultural populations of the sub-region.
Major activities during the event include the showcasing of the creative works of more than 300 cultural practitioners from the sub-region through photo, visual arts exhibitions.
The event will also feature indigenous music, dances, theatre and cultural presentations of delegates from the member-countries.
“During the five-day festivities, representatives from member-countries will also have time to undergo cultural immersion to communities in General Santos City, Sarangani Province and other areas in Mindanao,” Musa said.
The event will also serve as a venue to recognize the significant contributions of artists to the socioeconomic development of BIMP-EAGA.
Budayaw is derived from Bahasa word “buda” which means festival and the Filipino word “dayaw”, meaning celebration.
MinDA said that the conduct of Budayaw Festival is among the agreements signed during the BIMP-EAGA Socio-Cultural and Education (SCE) Cluster Meeting last year.
