Thursday, July 24, 2008 Colorful T'nalak Fest By Jojie Alcantara
THE T'nalak Festival is a prestigious annual event highlighting the colorful traditions of the T'boli tribe, who weaves the famous t'nalak cloth that symbolizes the culture of South Cotabato.
The province is a key player in the merging of South Cotabato, Sarangani, and General Santos City, or Socsargen, one of the country's fastest growing development clusters.
Socsargen serves as a gateway for the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga).
Celebrated during the foundation anniversary of South Cotabato, T'nalak festival is held on July 12-18, with activities in Koronadal City, province's capital.
South Cotabato embraces "unity in diversity," being home to several ethnic groups like the Manobos, B'laans, Maguindanaoans, and the T'bolis.
The traditional t'nalak cloth is hand woven in a long, steady process of dyeing, heating, and beating. The designs come from the weavers' dream.
Apart from the agri-trade, competitions, sports and parades, the highlight of this festival is the streetdancing competition.
My group consisting of Rhonson Ng, Tom Inigo, Roland Jumawan, Bong Aportadera (our City Tourism Officer) and I as the only girl, woke up as early as 3 a.m. so we could catch the start of the parade.
Tom drove all the way from Davao to Koronadal (which is a good fours hours passing by General Santos City). The road from Gensan to Koronadal is well-paved and smooth.
It was a clear sunny day and we didn't mind the sun beating down on us as we took colorful images of the performers garbed in traditional costumes in dazzling display of colors.
DOT-Southern Mindanao Regional Director Sonia Garcia and icon musician Popong Landero were two of the judges. After the parade, we journeyed back home to Davao with a fabulous lunch stop at High Ponds Resort in Toril courtesy of Tom.
(For more information on the festival and South Cotabato, visit www.southcotabato.gov.ph. Email writer at jojiealcantara@gmail.com or visit www.witerary.com.)
