COTABATO CITY — Members of the city’s Tourism Council and the city government here is now busy preparing for the week-long celebration of Shariff Kabungsuwan Festival set for December 15-19.
Shariff Kabungsuwan Festival is the "grandest and the most colorful celebration in Central Mindanao and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)," according to City Tourism Council chairwoman Bai Sandra Sinsuat Ampatuan-Sema.
"It depicts the spread of Islam in Mindanao through Shariff Kabungsuwan, an Arab missionary who landed at the mouth of Rio Grande de Mindanao — the second longest river in the country in the 11
th century," she added.
SK trade fairs, battle of the bands , Mindanao business forums, cultural presentations, street dancing competitions, and a Kanduli ( thanksgiving banquet), are among the highlights of this year’s events.
Also expected to draw a huge crowd is the Inaul or malong fashion showcase, a collection of handwoven malong made of silk and cotton and handwoven malong, the traditional dress of Maguindanaon Muslims.
At least eight promising cotouriers from Mindanao are expected to join the fashion show.
Sema said the Council wants to make Cotabato City a known tourism destination for the Shariff Kabungsuwan Festival and the Inaul or Malong fashion show.
"Even President Arroyo, when she visited Cotabato City, wore the Inaul Malong," said Sema, wife of Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema.
Crab, another delicacy here, will also be highlighted during the festival.
"I always boast our own crabs here. Many of our visitors, especially from Metro Manila, would always ask for crabs," said Sema.
