The Sarangani government has started preparing for a face-to-face celebration of its 30th Foundation Anniversary and 20th Munato Festival this November.
Governor Rogelio “Ruel” D. Pacquiao said the event will take place after a two-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It is very significant to me because this will be my first celebration in my first term as governor, so I’m so happy,” he said.
The governor said the Munato Festival 2022 will be a “fun, exciting, more colorful and an all-inclusive celebration” that everyone will be looking forward to.
Pacquiao and the other local officials met Tuesday, August 2, to discuss the preparation for the festival.
Provincial Tourism Officer April Marjorie P. Rudes said Munato 2022 will hold a “Panagtagbo sa Munato” where all Sarangans of all ages, groups, and tribes will get to “meet face-to-face after two years of not celebrating the festival.”
“We have the usual activities na atong gina-conduct, and we also have proposed new activities for the families, the Moro people, the IPs, and all the different tribes of the province,” Rudes said.
Pacquiao also assured that the provincial government will provide funds for the celebration.
“I already had a talk with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan members and they are very much willing to augment funds for this purpose,” he said.
The Munato Festival is a celebration of honoring the province’s tri-people community which includes the Moro people, the Lumads, and the Christians.
Munato is a Blaan phrase that means “first people” due to the large population of indigenous people inhabiting the province. In addition, Munato has revolved to refer to the anthropomorphic burial jars dating to 500BC which were discovered in the caves of Pinol in Maitum town.
