SUCCESS OF SAGAYAN FESTIVAL, A PICTURE OF PEACE GAINS IN BANGSAMORO LAND

Recap video broadcasted on GMA's 24 on the 1st Sagayan Festival.

A short documentary produced on the 2nd year.

Writers: Ferdinandh Cabrera, Alimacabalang

Visual By: Ferdinandh Cabrera

Buluan, Maguindanao--- As early as six o’clock, 62 year old Saiba Usop has positioned herself in the busy corner of this town to witness the colourful and grandious street dancing and float parade.

It’s valentines day, but for Muslims here who are not celebrating the occasion, the feeling is the same when seeing everyone is happy and celebrating a festivity together with family members and friends.

“I felt delighted, I hope the world would be like this always in my land of Maguindanao and the entire Bangsamoro and no moro atrocities 

anymore”, Usop uttered.

 The five-day celebration of Maguindanao’s 2^nd Sagayan Festival ended here on Thursday(Feb. 14) with its organizers and guests calling for the enhancement of ethnic cultures and traditions as a springboard for tourism promotion in harmony with initiatives for peaceful and productive coexistence among the country’s Muslim, Lumad and Christian sectors.

The festivities that began on Feb. 10 was culminated Thursday morning by the parade here of the colorful floats of the crowned festival queen and her escorts representing the tri-sectors, and in the afternoon by a high-spirited street dance competition of 12 teams showcasing the customs and traditions of all tribes constituting Maguindanao.

“ Aliwan, Aliwan”, this is the chant of the hundreds of viewers in festivals grand champion, the Meguyaya street dancers from North Upi, the hometown of Maguindanao’s Teduray tribe, ethnic Muslim villagers and Christian (Visayan and Ilocano) settlers.

Thousands were stuned and ended up cheering and clapping as they witnessed this vibrant festival dancers, who are moldened for top level competition.

“ Wow, as if we are watching in the Aliwan festivals with all their movements and props”, Assymblyman Khadaffy Mangudadatu expressed his feeling while watching the performance.

 Meguyaya dance group bagged the cash price of P350,000 and a giant trophy.

“Look, before our image can be viewed only as a common street fighting land killing each other with numerous guns around, We don’t want to see that now anymore, I don’t want to see the next generation of children embracing that violence, the gains of peace can be seen now on this different battle, the street dancing battle and talent in festivals like this Sagayan”, Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu told reporters after the event.

This year’s Sagayan Festival theme: ‘Maguindnao culture and traditions for better understanding and harmony,’”

In his speech closing the celebration, the governor expressed pleasure that the Sagayan Festival has improved gradually from its maiden episode last year, drawing this time more fervor and wider participation from his 36 constituent towns.

Sagayan Festival is also a tribute to the wife of Governor Mangudadatu, Ginalyn who is celebrating her birthday on the same day who dreamed to uplift beautiful cultures and traditions of Maguindanao in a tourism aspect,  she is one of the victim in the infamous Ampatuan Massacre in 2009.

 

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao caretaker-Governor Mujiv Hataman, despite the hectic schedule  flew  from a project launching ceremony in Lanao del Sur aboard a chopper to grace the event as guest speaker.

Hataman said such festival has gained more relevance in the face of the Aquino government’s blooming peace gestures with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that already brought forth the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro.