Tourism event honors indigenous people of SOCCSKSARGEN

1st Provincial Indigenous Peoples Day:South Cotabato celebrates the 1st Provincial Indigenous Peoples Day with the theme:" Pagsasakapangyarihan ng Katutubo Tungo sa Pagkakaisa, Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran" at the South Cotabato Gym and Cultural Center, October 25, 2016. Photo taken from Provincial Government of South Cotabato facebook

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato Oct. 26 (PIA) -- SOCCSKSARGEN Region's indigenous culture takes the center stage in a festival organized by the Department of Tourism 12 at the Veranza Mall in General Santos City and other parts of the region from October 26-31.

Dubbed as "TAU SOX: Festival of the First Peoples," the event is a recognition of the significant contributions of the indigenous peoples' cultural heritage to the tourism industry of SOCCSKSARGEN Region or Region 12.

"Cultural tourism is the best tourism asset of Region 12. This is the very reason why a lot of tourists visit the region," Nelly Nita Dillera, regional director of the Department of Tourism said.

"The authentic culture of the Tbolis, Blaans, Tirurays, Maguindanaons and Manobos is very much alive in the provinces of the region; it is but proper to pay them respects," Dillera added.

Dillera explained that the event name "Festival of the First Peoples" stemmed from the historical theory that the first settlers of the Philippines may have settled in the SOCCSKSARGEN.

Proof to this claim, according to Carlo Ebeo, former official of the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts, is the anthromorphic jars in the Ayub Cave in Maitum, Sarangani that dated from 5 BC to 225 A.D.

The area has been declared as an Important Cultural Property of the Philippines "just a step towards becoming a National Cultural Treasure."

Dillera elaborated that the main feature of the TAU SOX is the exhibit of traditional houses at the first and second floors of the Veranza Mall where authentic living artisans will demonstrate traditional practices including Blaan's tabih weaving, Tboli's embroidery designing, Maguindanaon's brasscasting, Tiruray's mat weaving, and Manobo music.

These traditional houses also display heritage identifiers such as the Maitum jars, Kulaman jars, Mabal Tabih, Lang Dulay's collection, antiquated brass wares, century-old inaul, musical instruments and ornaments.

Tourism operators have installed booths in the area and offer tours to cultural sites in the region.

While most of the events are being held in General Santos City the festival also features parallel cultural heritage in several parts of SOCCSKSARGEN Region including traditional rituals and performance at the Old City Hall in Cotabato City (October 26), traditional food and amd cook fest at the New City Hall in Koronadal City (October 27), and traditional sports and games at the city gymnasium of Tacurong City.

These off-site events will be accompanied by forums intended to generate better understanding of the practices of the indigenous peoples of the region.

Anchored on the theme, "Transcending boundaries, finding commonalities," the festival also celebrates October as the Indigenous Peoples' Month.

The TAU SOX: Festival of the First Peoples is being co-sponsored by the local government units, the NCCA, National Commission on the Indigenous Peoples, and the indigenous peoples mandatory representatives of LGUs. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)