Watch Colorful Festivals in South Cotabato

FESTIVALS IN SOUTH COTABATO

NOTE: North Cotabato (or Cotabato), Cotabato City and South Cotabato are NOT the same.

T’Nalak Festival

Photo from: https://www.caremin.com/2018/09/tnalak-festival-a-colorful-celebration

The T’nalak festival is celebrated during the foundation anniversary of the province of South Cotabato, and is held in the month of July in the provincial capital of Koronadal City. This celebration kicks off with the Dayana Civic Parade highlighted by a float and cheer dance competition and closes with the T’nalak Parade or Madal Bel’. This colorful street dancing competition offers unique entertainment. Dancers from around the province, dressed in native costumes of B’laan, T’boli and other tribal groups in Mindanao, are performing on the streets of the city. Read More: http://thingsasian.com/story/tnalak-festival-south-cotabato-philippines

Flom’lok Festival

Photo from: https://rmn.ph/security-plan-alang-sa-flomlok-festival-ginahan-ay-na/

Flom’lok is taken from a B’laan word which means “hunting ground.” The people of Polomolok celebrate this by showcasing the local products and a mix of socio-cultural activities. Home to one of the world’s largest pineapple plantations, Polomolok commemorates its foundation from September 2nd to 16th with true South Cotabato flair. Read More: http://southcotabato.gov.ph/flomlok-festival/

Kamayadan Festival

Photo from: https://www.facebook.com/provlgovtsocot/posts/the-municipality-of-norala-celebrates-kamayadan-festival-march-10norala-south-co/1593256044090611/

Locals give thanks for a good harvest during the Kamayadan Festival in the town of Norala in South Cotabato province. “Mayad” is derived from the Ilonggo term, which means “good.” Activities include a civic-military parade, zumba party, music competition, employees night and a boxing tournament. Read More: https://russellwalker.blog/2018/03/09/local-festivals-in-the-philippines-for-march-4th-10th-2018/

Helobung Festival

Photo from: https://www.choosephilippines.com/do/festivals/3778/lake-sebu-helobung-festival-2015

Helobung Festival is held to celebrate the Tboli culture. It is also celebrated to commemorate the founding of the scenic town settled more than 700 meters above sea level in the mountains of South Cotabato in Mindanao. It is said to be the liveliest time of the year in the town.

The festival allows its streets to be adorned with geometric ethnic designs with striking red and deep black colors, hues that represent the indigenous Tboli culture. Red represents the bravery and love and black is for the soil, the source of life. Read More: http://www.nomadperspectives.com/2015/11/helobung-festival-celebration-of.html#.XWVdBXt7laQ

Kasadyahan Festival

Photo from: http://healerpeeastisintupi.blogspot.com/2016_03_06_archive.html

Kasadyahan Festival, “Sagana Sayaw sa Kadalanan-Kasadyahan”: Celebration featuring street dancing competition coined from Visayan word “Kasadya”. It is a convergence of various ethnic and cultural dances featuring Tupi as the province’s flower, fruit and vegetable basket and a town where various cultures abode. Held every September 11 in celebration of the town’s foundation anniversary. Read More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupi,_South_Cotabato

Kariton Festival

Photo from: https://www.southcotabatonews.com/2011/10/kariton-festival.html

Every October, Tupi, South Cotabato is celebrating their Kariton Festival. The celebration highlighting the parade of Karitons (wooden carts) pulled by either a cow or a carabao made of indigenous materials decorated with flowers, fruits and vegetables. A celebration commemorating the significance of “kariton” in the life of the people and the development of Tupi as a whole. The week-long festivity showcases the farm products brought by the Karitons from the farm and the role of Kariton in making livelihood of their old and the empowerment of the women in helping and providing livelihood. Read More: http://boylakwatsero.blogspot.com/2013/02/kariton-festival.html

Linggo ng Matutum

Photo from: http://healerpeeastisintupi.blogspot.com/2016_03_06_archive.html

Annually the Government Municipality of Tupi, South Cotabato holds a weeklong celebration called linggo ng Mt. Matutum that themed “Amyak Maleh” means climb and plant. The said event attracts hundred of mountaineers from different places all over Mindanao. Im thankful for the said activity, because again I got the chance to climb the 2293 meters (7522 feet) above sea level Mt. Matutum. Read More: http://lakwatserongmamoy.blogspot.com/2014/03/amyak-maleh-mt-matutum-2014.html

Kulitangtang Festival

Photo from: https://www.southcotabatonews.com/2015/01/street-dancing-highlights-kulitangtang-festival.html

The Municipality of Tantangan, known for its clay pots and ceramics made by local artisan and craftsmen, celebrates its foundation anniversary and Kulitangtang Festival every 27th day of January. The festival name is from the word “Kulitangtangan,” or the ringing of a bell when there is a gathering. The streetdancing competition highlights the diversity of cultures in Tantangan. Read More: https://www.mymindanao.com/2019/01/5-biggest-must-see-festivals-in.html

Seslong Festival

Photo from: https://www.southcotabatonews.com/2016/02/celebrate-seslong-festival-in-tboli-this-march.html

Seslong festival is a celebration that portrays the gathering of people to barter goods. The municipality of T’Boli showcases its unique ethnicity from the 5th to 16th of March. Known as the center for eco-cultural tourism, the people of the highlands reflect the cultural heritage and ancestry of the province. Read More: https://southcotabato.gov.ph/seslong-festival/

Lum’Alay Festival

Photo from: http://11abm-seait.blogspot.com/2018/02/i-love-tampakan-tampakan-is-one-of.html

In line with the Foundation Anniversary of the Municipality of Tampakan, the gold-rich town celebrates Tamfaken Lum’alay Festival which formally opened yesterday June 18 and will last until June 21. The 3-days celebration started yesterday morning with a diana, ecumenical prayer in front of the municipal hall and the SMI-Tampakan Partnership Day. Read More: https://www.southcotabatonews.com/2012/06/tamfaken-lumalay-festival-2012-schedule.html

Hinublag Festival

Photo from: https://www.southcotabatonews.com/2013/12/municipality-of-sto-nino-to-celebrate.html

The Hinublag Festival is held in the municipality of Sto. Nino to celebrate its emancipation anniversary. This agriculturally blessed municipality is called the rice bin of the province. The festival is held from Januray 11th to 18th. A highlight of the festival is the street dancing competition in honor of the municipality’s patron saint, Sto. Nino. Read More: http://southcotabato.gov.ph/hinublag-festival/

Pasundayag Festival

Photo from: http://southcotabato.gov.ph/pasundayag-festival/

Pasundayag, an Ilonggo term which means “show” or “presentation” is a unique fiesta celebration which showcases the municipality’s local talents in a week-long celebration of good life and thanksgiving of the people of Banga.

Banga, the corn production center of South Cotabato, celebrates its foundation every 1st Week of March with a colorful Pasundayag festival a showcase of merry-making activities with its week-long events of beer and food festivals, street dancing competition, beauty pageant, trade fare, bargain shops and street parties. Read More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banga,_South_Cotabato

Lemlunay Festival

Photo from: https://w0wmindanao.wordpress.com/mindanao-in-focus/mindanao-festivals-2/lemlunay-festival/

Lemlunay or also known as T’Boli Tribal Festival is an annual celebration staged at Lake Sebu, South Cotabato in Philippines. It is celebrated every third week of September that features tribal rituals that start at early down amidst sounds of gongs and native music, culminating at the town plaza where cultural dances and ethic sports like horsefight are held. However, Lemlunay Festival is renowned by the 6 major tribes of South Cotabato (T´boli, Ubo, Manobo, Kalagan, Maguindanao, Tasaday) together with representatives from the different tribes in Davao (Tirurays, Mandaya, Surigao tribes, Langilan, Bilaan, Bagog, Mansaka).

It was originally just a small town fiesta celebrating the feast day of Sta Cruz. During 1970’s, the religious feast has incorporated the features of the Mo-inum or thanksgiving ritual of the T´bolis. The commemorative mass held during the final day features a unique blend of Catholic ritual and ethnic color. This festival was from the belief of the T’Boli in a golden age that they called Lemlunay which means “the good place one goes to in the afterlife”. The word “Lemlunay” is a sort of Camelot or paradise that they would like to make for their tribe. It is when the people there reenergize and renew their vow to work for this coveted state of life. Read More: https://allaboutfiesta.wordpress.com/2016/09/12/lemlunay-tboli-tribal-festival-date-september-11-13-location-lake-sebu-south-cotabato/

Lembohung Festival

Photo from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonrobiso/7103978243

With the theme, “Kulturang Yaman Tulay sa Kaunlaran”, the people of fast-growing municipality of Surallah in South Cotabato invites everyone to celebrate with them this year’s LEMBOHUNG FESTIVAL. Set this coming September 18 -22, Lembohung Festival is a celebration which aims to promote the preservation, promotion and development of arts, culture and traditions in Surallah. Lembohung Festival is now on it’s 5th year. Read More: https://www.southcotabatonews.com/2012/09/surallah-lembohung-festival.html

Agten Tufi Festival

Photo from: http://thebackpackman.blogspot.com/2018/08/agten-tufi-festival-2018-schedule-of.html

Agten Tufi Festival, a thanksgiving celebration of Beauty and Bounty, is a convergence of various ethnic and cultural dances featuring Tupi as the province’s flower, fruit and vegetable basket and a place where various cultures abode. Held every September 11 in celebration of the town’s foundation anniversary. Read More: https://adventuroj.com/tag/south-cotabato-festivals/

South Cotabato is a Part of REGION XII also known as SOCCSKSARGEN

South Cotabato and Its Strategic Location

Where is South Cotabato and How to Get There

Best Places to See in South Cotabato

Watch Colorful Festivals in South Cotabato

Let’s Have Fun in South Cotabato

South Cotabato Photo Gallery

South Cotabato Video Collection