SAMBUOKAN FESTIVAL

Photo from: https://www.choosephilippines.com/do/festivals/1961/sambuokan-festival-streetdancing-foam-party-mati

October is a merry month in the City of Mati in Davao Oriental as the Matinians celebrate their most colorful and much awaited Sambuokan Festival. It is a week-long celebration of the people of Mati in thanksgiving for the year’s blessings of bountiful harvests and in observance of the founding anniversary of the City every 29th of October.

Sambuokan is a Mandaya word taken from the term “buok” which means “one” meaning unity and oneness among the people of Mati. Mandaya is an indigenous tribe in Mindanao that inhabits mostly the hinterlands of Davao Oriental. Read More: http://davaocitybybattad.blogspot.com/2012/08/sambuokan-festival.html

Photo from: https://www.hellotravel.com/events/sambuokan-festival

The word “sambuok” means to gather, and in Mati City, Davao Oriental, “Sambuokan” means a showcase of culture in the streets, unity, and yes, time to party!

The streets of Mati City were throbbing with drums as eight contingents from various schools danced in the streets and competed in the Indak Sayaw sa Sambuokan. The vibrant colors of the costumes and the stories that each dance depicted made the performances very interesting.

To put into steps the legends of giant beetles eating their crops and of fairies that save the harvest was a feat in itself. Organizing more than 50 students to make all those movements, formations, and yells and cheers was an accomplishment. And yet, the children made it appear easy and fun. Thus, the spontaneous appreciation of the audience through rounds of applause for each group.

As if the afternoon of dancing was not enough, Matinians and tourists flocked to the white sand beach and blue waters of Dahican for the foam party until the wee hours of the morning. Skimboarding, surfing, and swimming turned Dahican into one big party place! Read More: https://www.choosephilippines.com/go/festivals/1961/sambuokan-festival-streetdancing-foam-party-mati

Photo from: https://www.pbase.com/image/130026328

October is a happy month in the City of Mati in Davao Oriental as the Matinians commend their most beautiful and much anticipated Sambuokan Festival. It is seven days in length festivity of the general population of Mati in thanksgiving for the year’s favors of abundant harvests and in recognition of the establishing commemoration of the City each 29th of October.Sambuokan is a Mandaya word taken from the term buok which signifies “one” which means solidarity and unity among the general population of Mati. Mandaya is an indigenous clan in Mindanao that occupies generally the hinterlands of Davao Oriental.

The Festival gladly exhibits Mati’s unity and amicability for a typical decent regardless of its ious culture and ethnic customs, divisions, monetary status, and way of life by including seven days in length fun of daily shows and occasions, and exciting exercises, for example, road moving rivalries called “Indak sa Sambuokan,” one of the Festival’s features that unites the best contingents from rudimentary, auxiliary, and tertiary members from Mati City and a few sections in Mindanao and present an astounding showcase of their unmistakable hues, societies, and conventional moves beginning from the ER Supermall, to Rizal Extension and primary lanes of downtown region, to the Mati Park and Baywalk as conclusive region for standoff. Read More: https://www.hellotravel.com/events/sambuokan-festival