15 Things I loved about Tnalak Festival and South Cotabato

Tnalak Festival, one of the most awaited feast in South Cotabato, it’s 13^th year has just ended last July 18, and certainly this 6-day celebration along with the 46^th Foundation Anniversary of the province of South Cotabato were indeed very successful 

            I’m a local of this province, and I feel fortunate that I’m always able to come, see and enjoy the yearly celebration of Tnalak Festival and the Foundation Anniversary of my home Province.

            It’s really more fun in South Cotabato, and I want to share the fun by giving you the top 15 things I( and you might love as well) loved about Tnalak Festival and South Cotabato.

            Here’s the top 15 things that made me fell inlove on Tnalak Festival and South Cotabato:

1.      First and foremost of course are “The People of South Cotabato” – I love them because despite of the differences in culture, belief, walk of life and even in gender preferences, still  everyone unites and contributed on the success of this province, without it, Tnalak festival won’t be this successful and together we will continue to make a difference, Amo na yah!

2.      The second is the place, “South Cotabato” itself, I don’t only love the people but of course this land of South Cotabato too. This land is blessed with natural resources, shielded by mountain from typhoons, and far from dangerous faultlines, who wouldn’t want a place like this. I know South Cotabateneos will join hands in conserving an preserving this God’s given gifts.

3.      “Lake Sebu” – this is the Summer Capital of Southern Mindanao, I’ve been here many times but I will definitely comeback to experience the Highest Zipline in South East Asia, and to see the 7 beautiful cascading falls of Lake Sebu.

4.      “Bahay Kubo and Product Display” – I finally got to discover the different products of the neighboring towns and city in South Cotabato. Before I was just aware of only few, only those that are popular just like Polomolok and their Pineapples which is already known globally.

During Tnalak festival, every town had their opportunity to showcase their respective products and to show how creative and imaginative they are in decorating their bahay kubo using the products that they represent.

5.      One of the event that really catches my heart was the “Harana sa Kubo” it’s fun, and I’m happy that my fellow youngsters were able to see how our parents and grand parents expresses their feelings to someone they love through harana. How romantic!

6.      Who wouldn’t fall in-love to the lovely candidates of “Mutya ng South Cotabato” I’m giving them all a two thumbs up! Basta South Cotabatenya, Gwapa!

7.      Magsinadya kita! – this is the only line that I can understand from the lyrics of the music played during the colorful and loud “Street Dancing” some words are probably Tboli words or from other tribes, but nevertheless I enjoyed the street dancing, in fact the music keeps resounding on my ears until I got home, how addictive!

8.       The Dancing Inmates of South Cotabato – I’ve seen when it was featured on national tv, particularly at 24 oras of GMA 7. I’m amazed by their performance because they joined the Hiphop Dance Competition, “Truly dreams can transcend beyond the iron bars” and despite of being an inmates they were still able to share and showcase their talents.

9.      the first ever “UGYON Fstival: Celebration of Freedom” this celebration was for the members of 3^rd-sex(gays,lesbians,bisexuals and transgenders) even though I’m not a member of 3rdSex, I’m happy that the province of South Cotabato acknowledge their contribution in our society. Respect, acceptance and understanding are really necessary to achieve Unity and Peace. Mabuhay South Cotabateneos!

10.   The “AgriFair and Plant exhibit” -  I bonded with my mom on this event, I’ve brought her on the exhibit, I know she will enjoy the various varieties of beautiful flowers and other plants, of course I enjoyed it as well, we are both plant lovers after all.

11.  the “Tnalak Weave” – well, it’s quite obvious that I love the Tnalak, I did actually used it as a design on my blog. I like it’s patterns and the mystical background behind it, I know the patterns were based from the dreams of the weaver, that’s why Tboli women who weaves Tnalak are also known as dream weavers.

12.  the Ornamental Fish Exhibit – I’m an ornamental fish hobbyist, and I’m glad that there was a Fish Show during the festival, because of it, I had the chance to see beautiful strains of guppy, lines of Betta Splendens(fighting fish), goldfishes and Flower horns.

I want the kids of South Cotabato to be exposed on this kind of hobby, so that they will learn how to be responsible and also to take them away from harmful vices.

For us adults, having pets can lessen the stress that we get from work, family, school, and of course lovelife? Hahaha

13.  Koronadal City – I was born here, and still a resident of Koronadal, I love it, even it is just a small city, it is very competitive and peaceful, Kanami Koronadal!

14 . The “South Cotabato Officials “– I salute the government officials of South Cotabato for their  efforts on the development of my beloved home province, without them and their sincere public service. 13^th Tnalak Festival and 46^th Foundation anniversary won’t be this successful.

15.  The “SUNtastic signal of Sun Cellular”, it has been greatly improved that’s why  I can now enjoy Sun’s unlimited call and text and other promos. It’s easier now to invite friends from afar to join the Tnalak Festival. Great job Sun Cellular, I’m SUNtisfied!

“This is my submission for the T'nalak Festival 2012 Blog Writing Contest, which is made possible with the support of sponsors such as Hon. Governor Arthur Y. Pingoy, Jr and the province of South Cotabato, Sun Cellular - get two days of unlimited text to all networks for only ₱15 with SUN TEXTALL15, Dole Philippines, Representative Teddy Casiño & Bayan Muna Party-List,  KCC Malls, SouthCotabato.Org and South Cotabato News.”

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My Vote goes to South Cotabato Tambayan

Among all the 18 finalists of  2011 Philippine Blog Awards Bloggers’ Choice, there's only one site that I choose to be my choice because I think it deserves to win, and this site is no other than  South Cotabato Tambayan

I’ve seen how this site started, how a hundred visitors grows exponentially into thousands in just a short period of time. What’s the secret? I don’t know, but one thing I’m sure about is that content will always be the king, in other words, a lovable site will be love, a worth visiting site will be visited, again and again – simple as that.

So why is that  South Cotabato Tambayan is lovable and worth visiting? Well, at least for me, South Cotabato Tambayan  is playing a big role on uniting the people of South Cotabato, it serves as a place on the web where South Cotabateneos all over the world could unite online, not only that, South Cotabato Tambayan  helps promote the tourism of the province and  make it known world wide by showcasing various prides of South Cotabato.

Also  South Cotabato Tambayan is always on the top notch on providing fresh information about the events that is taking place on the province, they also exist to inspire other people with the success stories that the South Cotabato Tambayan members shared to everyone.

As to blogging, some of the members of South Cotabato Tambayan  has their own blogs, where they can express their opinions and share their thoughts among the members, they’re exchanging points of views through comments, and I think discussing things about certain issues that might affect our lives is an important act, for we know that communication is necessary  if we want to achieve understanding and peace, that’s why I salute South Cotabato Tambayan for making it possible, for  exerting a noble effort on uniting the South Cotabateneos despite of the differences on cultures,religions,beliefs,political point of views, and a lot more.

I wish they’ll continue what they have started;
more power and long live South Cotabato Tambayan!!!

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I won… somehow.

Last September 10, 2010, I submitted my entry on a blog writing contest where I joined, that was my first time to join on a writing contest. I’m not a writer, perhaps not a good writer, but still my guts pushed my enthusiasm to give it a try.

I wasn’t confident that my entry will win any price, it simply because I’m not competent on this field, but still I was able to wrote my entry. I don’t really care if I win or not, I was just looking for a topic to write about for my new blog.

The Day of Judgment has come, I was informed by one of the organizers that my entry had won a prize a major prize. I was surprised, and I wonder which prize I won, is it the 1^st? the 2^nd? Or the 3^rd ?. I quickly click the link that was sent to me on facebook to see the full detail about the winners.

The name of the first places wasn’t mine, and the next winner is not me, that leaves me on the third. I’m the third prize winner, where’s the proof? Here’s the link http://magazine.southcotabato.org/2010/10/winners-of-south-cotabato-experience.html  you might also want to check out my poorly but lucky written entry 

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South Cotabato Experience

Being born and becoming an inhabitant on this province of South Cotabato is such a good luck and fortune, If you are born here too then you shouldn’t be asking why, but if not then I guess I have to give you an idea on why I think and I thought I’m lucky and fortunate to be born on this beautiful province of South Cotabato. there are numbers of reasons that I can enumerate to you why I feel lucky being a South Cotabateneo. The first is that Province of South Cotabato is rich on natural resources of  its different towns. For us exporting products or goods from other provinces is not an option, we have enough here and in fact we are capable of exporting as well, just like other provinces. For example the pineapples of Polomolok are also served on Uncle Sam’s breakfast, not only to Juan Dela Cruz, and not only town of Polomolok, other towns of South Cotabato also has their respective products which serve as their trademark. Town of Banga is known because for their corn, also Lake Sebu is famous for its Tilapia and beautiful lake resorts. This province of South Cotabato is not only proud of its natural resources, also of its people, South Cotabato is a province of peace loving and talented people, the T’nalak woven by the native of T’boli is already known worldwide, and its one of the province pride, maybe that is why our festival was named: ‘t’nalak festival’ –and you should visit us during our celebration of t’nalak festival to witness the rich and colorful culture of South Cotabateneos.

        Even if I was born here and a permanent resident of South Cotabato, there are still places here that I haven’t visited yet(not until I went there) haha. And one of those is Lake Sebu, I got curious about this place when I heard a lot of good things about it from my friends, classmates, and other people. They said it was a nice there, and they really had a great time, the place was so peaceful and relaxing and they’ll definitely come back there. Their said experiences at Lake Sebu becomes my first impression of that place, a first impression that certainly last until now, I have already been there many times, not just more than twice of one hehehe and that is when my impressions becomes reality, it was a paradise before my eyes, you’ll forget your worries and tensions, its really a good place to relax and unwind which I think is necessary for busy persons like… …you? Maybe, hehehe I’m not a busy person, not at all. But still I love the place and I will loved to be misplaced there hahaha missing? Or lost? –haha just dreaming for adventure.

The climate was very cold or rather the weather, but whether the climate or the weather, the point is its cold, very cold, especially when the sun is not present, you better take your blanket or jacket or igloo hahaha with you.



I wonder if Manny Pacquiao could do his training here instead of in baguio and when he refused, then we could invite Antonio Margarito hahahaha he might forget his fight to Manny Paquiao, leave his boxing career and choose to spend his whole life at Lake Sebu, and maybe raise some Tilapia hahahaha I can’t wait to see a punching Tilapia or maybe a punched Tilapia haha how cruel! –too much for the nonsense.

Haha I’ll be giving you 10 reasons why everyone should have their own South Cotabato experience(s) just see the ff:

10 reasons why you should visit South Cotabato

1.    for you to discover the hidden treasure of South Cotabateneos different cultures.
2.    for you to taste the tasty and fresh tilapia of Lake Sebu
3.    for you to see that South Cotabato is a land of peace.
4.    for you to feel fine eating fineapples(pineapples) of Polomolok.
5.    for you to fall inlove not just seven times to Lakes Sebu’s 7 falls.
6.    to see and learn how T’nalak cloths are woven.
7.    to relax and find peace in the calm and wonderful lake at Lake Sebu.
8.    to experience the ziplines at Lake Sebu
9.    to enjoy life more.
10.    why not?—why not visit South Cotabato? You may post your reasons here, who knows if that’s about financial matters, then maybe someone generous will sponsor your trip hahaha that’s if luck is on your side hehe.

So what are you waiting for? Tickets are available at the nearest Bus terminal, Airport and fishport?hehe  come and visit South Cotabato, your journey begins here(and ends here as well?) just kidding. For more info just visit South Cotabato Tambayan @ http://www.southcotabato.org/  I’m sure they are happy to help you, because SCT or South Cotabato Tambayan is the only online tambayan of true and friendly Cotabateneos and you might want to join their 1st SCT Blog-Writing Contest, great prizes are waiting for you. This is actually my entry for this said contest, hehe my poorly written entry, but still I’m hoping to win the consolation prize… if not the Grand prize. hehehehe but I’ll be more happy if it’s the Grand prize hahaha and if you are also interested to join then check out the mechanics for The 1st SCT Blog-Writing Contest. Good luck… to myself and to you also.

----------------------- MADAMO GID NGA SALAMAT -------------------------------

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