Month-long ARMM anniversary festival draws huge crowd

COTABATO CITY - Hundreds of people continue to flock and participate in the celebration of the 27th founding anniversary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao here as it highlights the festival with cultural competitions showcasing the region rich and colorful heritage.

The festival, launched on November 19, is being held at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex and is now on its final week. Dubbed ‘Pakaradjaan sa ARMM,’ the final celebration kicked off December 12 with colorful dances and wonderful music from the province of Maguindanao.

Performers from an ensemble of around 30 Maguindanaon students and professionals trained by the Kutawato Dance Bureau (KDB), played songs, drama and at least 12 dances, including ‘Kapeg-Islam’, ‘Kapegkawing’, and ‘Kapamalong-malong’

Accompanying their performances were ethnic musicians who played ‘kulintang’, ‘agong’, ‘gandingan’, and the now venerable ethnic instrument the ‘kutyapi’ played by very few today. 

Esmail Ahmad, a 71-year old blind man, who played the instrument, is one of only three known players of the kutyapi in Maguindanao and in the region. He is often invited by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts to perform in Manila during special occasions.

Maguindanaons constitute the biggest Muslim group in North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, and South Cotabato – the four provinces constituting the then Cotabato Empire. 

The word Maguindanao was derived from ‘Maguin’, meaning one who has suffered from flood, and ‘Danao’ meaning flood by lake. The people of Maguindanao, known as the Maguindanaons, are referred to as the “people of the flood plains”.

KDB director and choreographer Arvie Roa Macmud-Sinsuat said she conceptualized the Maguindanaon cultural night in performances that bound together the history and tradition of the locals in a very authentic, creative, and colorful execution. That is why, she said, her ensemble has a high chance of besting out the other competitors this week.

For this year’s Pakaradjaan, the province of Maguindanao is being represented by 21 ARMM agencies, headed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-ARMM) under Regional Secretary Kirby Matalam Abdullah. The province of Maguindanao is the reigning over-all champion in last year’s competitions and it hopes to retain the title this year.

Performing on December 13 is the province of Lanao, followed by the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi respectively, from December 14 until December 16. The cultural night presentations are part of the celebration of the 2016 Pakaradjaan sa ARMM.

Previous competitions like the Dulang Cultural Parade, Tribal Cuisine Competition, and various sports competitions, were previously held in line with the celebration. The winners of all the competitions will be announced during the closing ceremonies of this year’s Pakaradjaan on Monday, December 19. (Bureau of Public Information)

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