Bukidnon: A Taste of Indigenous Culture

This is my first stop -- my home province, Bukidnon. 

What better way to showcase this cool plateau than the Kaamulan Festival, one of the few remaining authentic indigenous festivals being celebrated in the country.  Kaamulan means "social gathering" in the native Binukid dialect.  The seven hill tribes of Bukidnon gather in Malaybalay (the province's capital city) every March to showcase their traditional dances & songs.  When I was a kid, this festival was held every September but was later moved to March to coincide with the province's foundation day.


I'm sure, just like I did, guests both local and foreign enjoyed the ethnicity and authenticity of the festival through the display of dances, songs, instruments, crafts, and the colorful garments.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

The floats were also judged based on the use of indigenous materials.  This one got the 1st Place in the Float category: 

Dances showed the way of life of the natives - from how they fend for food to how they fought for their lands.

It was truly a feast for all the senses.  The beat of the ethnic drums & gongs made me the people dance along.  It  was a good thing that Malaybalay has a very cool climate, even if the sun was at its highest, everyone remained in such great moods. 

Bukidnon My Home

Wherever I may roam

the distant land to see
I long to go back soon
to sweet Bukidnon home.

Her lovely mountains high
her forest old and grand
bring memories to me
the home I long to see.

There my heart, yearns to be
in far away, Bukidnon land
under its blue and starry skies
where love and joy never die.

This song is very close to my heart... even now, after a decade of living here in the metro,  I can sing recite it without missing a word.  

How to get there: 

• Daily flights from Manila to Cagayan de Oro are offered by Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines.  I usually wait for promo fares but regular-priced fare will be around P3600, one-way.  I told you to wait for the promo fares.
• From the CDO airport (known to locals as Lumbia airport), take a cab to the Agora Public Market where the bus terminals are, cab fare plays around P250-P300 depending on how well you can haggle.  If you are watching the budget, you can take a jeepney to SM (P20+), then another one to Divisoria (P20+),  and one more to Agora (P7).  This is a pretty complicated route, I'd go for the cab ride especially if you have a heavy bag to lug around.
• In Agora, take the Rural Transit bus bound for Valencia or Davao.  There are airconditioned and non-airconditioned trips.  AC trips to Malaybalay City will cost around P150 and will take 2 hours. 
• Approximately 30-45mins into the trip, all buses and public vehicles bound for Bukidnon are required to disembark in a quarantined area and passengers are required to step through a foot bath.  This is to take care of our livestock. ;)

Where to stay: 

• Pine Hills Hotel - convenient since it is located in the city center, just along Fortich Street.  Rates are pretty affordable which starts at P1000 for Standard Rooms to P2500 for the Executive Suites.  It is better to make a reservation especially if you are going during the Kaamulan festival. 
• Haus Malibu - located along Bonifacio Drive, is still convenient (everything seems to be convenient and just a walk away in Malaybalay).  Rooms are said to be cheaper compared to Pine Hills.  I haven't stayed here so I couldn't say anything about their rooms and amenities. Teehee! 
• There are little inns and pension houses scattered around the city, ask around... you'll discover how I'm biased warm the people are. 

You will not lose your way once you are in Malaybalay.  It is a small city with people of big hearts.