Expect the Bukidnon to go tribal from the first to the second week of March, when the streets of Malaybalay take on that familiar fiesta theme. Banners, banderitas, and beer will be norm, as well as the sweet, haunting sound of native music. An early morning pamuhat ritual kicks off the festivities, to be followed by an ethnic food fest, trade fairs, and a lot of native dancing.
The Kaamulan Festival in Malaybalay Bukidnon is probably one of the remaining few festivals in the Philippines that is still not commercialized and has still retained its true essence.
Kaamulan is a celebration and gathering of the seven tribes of Bukidnon namely: Tala-andig, Higaonon, Umayamnon, Manobo, Tigwahanon, Matigsalug and Bukidnon.
The festival was initiated in 1977 to promote Bukidnon and to let the seven tribes showcase their unque culture.
Kaamulan: ONLY authentic ethnic festival in the Philippines “Bukidnon’s Kaamulan Festival is the only authentic ethnic festival in the country.” This was the bold statement made by Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ace Durano today, March 7, 2009 in his speech during the Kaamulan Festival 2009 Ethnic Street Dancing Competition.
Kaamulan Festival The name Kaamulan is Binukid for "social gathering. Kaamulan's charm is not in the frenzy of the Ati-atihan, nor in the pomp and glitter of Sinulog.
It all began in 1974. It was the fiesta of Malaybalay, May 15, in honor of San Isidro Labrador. The town's vice mayor then, Edilberto Mamawag, thought of inviting some indigenous Bukidnon tribespeople to town. Mamawag thought a few dance steps by the natives at Plaza Rizal would enliven the fiesta-goers.
That simple idea caught fire. A former reporter for the Manila Times, Mamawag had at that time a guest Manila reporter who later wrote about it for a national magazine. That signaled the start of Kaamulan's fame. One year led to another. On Sept. 16, 1977, the Regional Development Council adopted Kaamulan as the regional festival of northern Mindanao.
