Sarangani to celebrate 16th year as a province

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Nov. 25 (PNA) – The Sarangani Tourism and Industry Association, Inc. (SARTIA) has expressed excitement in this year's MunaTo Festival, showcasing the cultural pride of Sarangani province.

The festival takes place Nov. 26 to 28 with bulk of the activities to be held at the provincial capitol grounds in Alabel town.

"This time you will see the very reason why we call it MunaTo, and see how it is incorporated even to their dances," SARTIA president Michelle Solon told newsmen. MunaTo is a tribal Blaan term for "first people".

This year’s celebrations carries the theme “Ang Galing Mo, Sarangan,” which Solon said “epitomizes our people's excellence, creativity, and culture.”

Unlike the weeklong MunaTo Festival in past years, it will only be held for four days this year, but in larger scale will showcase Sarangani's best in culture, fishing or agriculture.

"We will give tribute to the outstanding Sarangans, his or her innovations and creativity," Solon said.

Some of these activities are the tribal sports such as gamti (archery) and Sbuno (wrestling), tribal paintings by Tboli artist Ronald Tamfalan, award-winning Cocoy Sexcion's photography called Sights and Faces, and colorful tribal displays called Gum Ni, a tribal trade fair to be participated in by the different municipalities.

Boxing title bouts will be sponsored by Mayor Jojo Lopez of Maasim, hometown of World Boxing Organization title holder Richie Mepranum. Motocross competition will be held at the Capitol oval grounds with more than 100 entries from across the country.

"As Sarangani grow older, we become more passionate. We learn every step of the way," Sarangani Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez said.

Part of the celebrations will be the launching of the "Justice on Wheels" on November 28. The provincial government purchased a bus worth P900,000 to bring the court to the barangays and "speed up" the administration of justice among the communities.