Kaamulan festival is one of my favorite festivals here in Mindanao. I’m so fortunate for having a chance to come and see the celebration of the Kaamulan Festival 2012 in Malaybalay. The trip was a little bit long but good things some of my friends were there to accompany me since it was our first visit to Kaamulan Festival. The feeling of excitement is in the air everybody is ready with their digital and video cameras for the festival. I myself am also engrossed to witness the colorful festival of Kaamulan.
As I step out of the car the cold winds welcomed me but I ignored it because of the excitement rushing through my veins. Happy faces and light spirited people you will see at the Grand Capitol Grounds you can see to their faces that they are also excited to witness the festival. Then the float parade had started at exactly 7 o’clock in the morning and everybody is looking for the perfect spot to get pictures and videos. Gigantic and extravagant floats were on parade together with colorful vibrant street dancers. You will see on their faces of tired but the show must go on to win the competition. The categories were float parade, ground presentation and the street dancing is one of the highlights of the Kaamulan festival. Showcasing the 7 tribes of Bukidnon, you can see how they preserved the rich culture of the 7 tribes. I felt proud of what I saw when the some of the tribes were walking proudly on the street wearing a tribal attire. Amazed and astonished that as of this time you can see people who still does exist like the 7 tribes. After the parade all the contingents were introduced to the panel of prestigious judges coming from different places. After reading the criteria the contest proper started all the contingents did their best to win the contest. The contest lasted for 5 hours including the parade. Colorful props and synchronized steps made the viewers more eager to watch the contest even under the sun. Some supporters were there to cheer and to show camaraderie to their municipality. The decision has made by the judges for the float competition Malitbog got the 1st place, Quezon got the 2nd place and Valencia got the 3rd place. For the Street dancing competition Maramag got the 1st place, 2nd place for Malitbog and 3rd place for San Fernando. For the Ground presentation Malitbog got the 1st place, Maramag got the 2nd place and San Fernando got the 3rd place. The winners were very happy but still the none winners still receives 10 thousand pesos plus Vice President Binay added 10 thousand for each consolation prize everybody’s happy after the competition. Good thing I was able to have an interview with the Kaamulan Festival 2012 event organizer the dynamic Ms. May Flor Intong.
Salu tabo is one of the busiest spot in Kaamulan festival. Everything is there like food, accessories, souvenir items, fresh produce from the locals of Malaybalay, plants and animals, and henna tattoos. Many locals and from other places displayed their products and produce to give essence of entrepreneurship. Everybody is encouraged to have their own display to add more color to the salu tabo. I took pictures to the fresh products and to the entire stalls in salu tabo and I had a chance to interview one of the Japanese coy vendors. His been into this business for 10 years and he said that the coy is already part of the family. I also featured one of the eye catching stall the souvenir items and the henna tattoo. The stall was just along the road but one person got my attention was the artist his from Davao and his records from being a tattoo artist gave him a reputation of being the best and creative. His young but his experienced made him so famous in the field of tattoo artistry.
Dinner time I was looking for an exotic but sad to say I wasn’t able to find it. But there is one restaurant named Kambingan there they served deep fried quail. Also we found a good restaurant where they serve yummy lechon and we found one local product from Sumilao corn coffee. Corn coffee is a good alternative for coffee beans because it can cure some ailments of the body. Malaybalay is a peaceful city during night time. We had a chance to stroll all the night party life of the Kaamulan, it was fun and they made the old theater and now they made it as a party venue for people who loved to party at night.
The next day Kaamulan Festival activities continued on the same venue they have a Frisbee competition and Kapuso Motorcade together with Kapuso Stars Ryza Cenon,Yna Asistio, and Jillian Ward. GMA Kapuso is the official station that covers the Kaamulan Festival 2012. On the evening they have some Kapuso stars for some variety show held at the Grand Capitol Ground and they end the show with amazing fireworks display. The long rainy day was done again we need to rest for tomorrows activity the Panahik Adventure Race and the Rodeo awarding night held at the Grand stand.
Panahik adventure race was an open race which by played by pair and they are given an alternative rides like the scooter and roller blades. The race was about 20 kilometers race good thing the weather was gloomy and rainy, the reason why the racers were not exhausted when they reached the finish line. I had a chance to talk with the race organizer and so with the 3rd placer of the Panahik adventure race. //
Then we headed to the salu tabo again and I saw a unique kind of art it’s called the Caricature, its drawing of a person’s face and the body would be distorted to a super hero or toned muscled body it will depend on what character you like. He can use pencil as to sketch your face or water color. He doesn’t have a formal training about arts it is purely talent, intricate details he can draw. But he said it would be easier for him to draw caricature when the person is in front of him compared to a picture given by customer.
We went to the awarding night for the winners of the Rodeo games. Governor Kalingasan was there and all the councilor and officials of the municipality of Malaybalay. Everybody was happy even if it rained and the grand stand was so muddy. Rodeo is one of the famous events in the Kaamulan Festival.
Last day at Kaamulan festival I went to go horseback riding which is also one of the famous spot in Kaamulan. The landscape was very beautifully made and the houses were made for the visitors to stay for the night. The horses were very calm and much tamed; they were being well taking care of by their owner. And I was able to talk to the owner of the horse that I ride on.
The last but not the least was the Monastery of the Transfiguration a solemn and serene landscape makes you meditate or have some recollection. The ambience was so calm and so holy that we need to follow some dress codes and maintain holy silence. There are two monasteries the old and the new but most the time the monk will have their everyday prayer at the new monastery. Monks are restrained to mingle with people or to the public and they live with their own they plant their own produce for their food. The monastery of the Transfiguration is a good place to have a recollection and retreat. That ends my road trip to Kaamulan festival I consider it as one of my memorable experiences here in Mindanao. I am proud to say that there’s no place like home. I want to come back next Kaamulan for a new adventure to conquer. 
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