One Northern Mindanao in Himamat 2016

Hello guys! I realized I made a very looong vacation from blogging. Hehe. It is because I have got so busy in the past week, and even these past weekend. I attended our church’ Global Grand Evangelical Mission at Tagoloan Dome on Saturday, then yesterday I served as proctor in the Licensure Examination for Teachers on its September 2015 leg. I just hope all or if not, most of our examinees made it through!

Days before the weekend anyways, I got invited to cover the launching of Amihang Mindanao – Himamat Festival 2016: A Festival for Peace and Cultural Understanding, which was held alongside with the National Tourism Week Celebration at SM City last September 24.

It is referred as the convergence of all cultural festivals in Region 10, covering 5 provinces, 9 cities and hundreds of municipalities, which as we know of, each has its own festival.

Each contingent is required to showcase open dance interpretation of the cultural heritage of the region. Interpretations should depict the rich culture and traditions of Indigenous Peoples of Northern Mindanao. These interpretations then should give a message of peace and cultural understanding, for it is an advocacy of Himamat 2016 to unite people of Region 10 through peace and cultural understanding.

There are 25,000 performers who will be participating in this Himamat 2016 mainly organized by BusinessWeek Mindanao Events, in partnership with DOT and other partners. These thousands of performers will also dance in tune of It’s More Fun in the Philippines to set a breaking record in a single performance at the Guinness Book of World Record.

Other than that, 100 to 150k tourist from in and outside the country are also expected to come. This is a participation for the region’s goal of “one billion tourists and one billion opportunities target to be attained for the year 2016 and beyond.”

I am so excited for this event, especially that it entails peace and cultural understanding. Making it happen is a dream finally coming true. Yes. I remember my participation on Kamindanawan 2013, during my college years. It invited members of Mindanao Commission on Women and Mindanao Youth for Peace and Development, coming from different regions in Mindanao. The discussions centered on women empowerment, and cultural understanding. I realized there are particular gaps especially when comes to culture and religion. These gaps have causes inequality such as, when it comes to opportunities. Some speakers even talked about how they are just the same with everyone else, despite of being different (in terms of belief and culture) from their neighbor regions. They also love peace and understanding. They could also show respect to other identities and religions. Indeed, it is just so saddening how stereotypes and opinions caused infairness to them. Talking about it and listening to what they have to say made us, participants, appreciate what they have. Talking about our culture to them and seeing them smile over it just gave us chill, excitement, overwhelming happiness that are signs of peace. During Kamindawan, we made a One Mindanao.

For that, I feel so good about this Himamat 2016 due to happen on September 2016, because its aim is also a One Northern Mindanao.

Hi BusinessWeek Mindanao interns!