North Cotabato marks 104th Founding Anniversary

Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte as guest speaker during the 104th Founding Anniversary of North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY --- The long-week 2018 Kalivungan Festival in North Cotabato province ended last September 1 with  a thousand tourists coming from different places nearby the province and elsewhere.

Kalivungan, a maenuvu word, which means “gathering,” highlights cultural presentation, ethnic dances, rituals, native music, and games in connection the unique culture of the Manaevu tribe, adopted as the festivity title for the yearly founding anniversary celebration of North Cotabato as a province.

Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño said “Serbisyong Totoo sa Ating Probinsiya“made us successful and progressive.

During the 104th Founding Anniversary of the province last week, Governor Taliño–Mendoza said: “We are very happy and thankful on this founding anniversary because this is another milestone of the province in serving the people under a true and honest governance and by giving them a good services  to uplift the living condition of the people here.”

The lady governor said she is elated with the presence of Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte, Senator Cynthia A. Villar, and  Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos who graced the occasion  and witnessed the prestigious Kalivungan Festival of the province.

Mayor Duterte as guest speaker said: “Nalipay jud ko ug dako na giimbitahan ko ni Governor Lala Taliño nga mo guest sa founding anniversary dire. Unity and solidarity and una nako na wish dire kay mao na and hugpong nato sa kalamboan sa atong probinsya, improvement ug peace ang sunod kay kinahangalan nato ug kalinaw para makab-ot nato ang success.”

Meanwhile, Senator Cynthia Villar expressed her surprise for the Cotabateños hospitality, abundance, and progression... maybe this is because of the good governance of Governor Taliño for her efforts to give good or better living condition to the people here.”

The anniversary celebration culminated with a festive program at the Grand Stand of the Provincial Capitol in Amas, Kidapawan City.

Ilocos Norte Governor Marcos said: “This is my third time to attend this grand celebration of North Cotabato. I have witnessed the hospitality of the people here...  their abundance and creativity are clearly adopted, including their unique culture.”

The festival was filled with exciting dance contests like, among them, the Bollywood dance by the Integrated Provincial Health Office personnel together with the Carmeneous of Carmen municipality in their ethnic and historical dance performance.  

President Roxas municipality as well as other entries presented their ethnic dances, vibrating the celebration with color and much appreciation. (By Becky D. de Asis)

Sara lauds Cotabateños

Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte lauded the people of this province for the successful holding of the just concluded Kalivungan Festival, calling it a symbol of unity in diversity.

The mayor, who served as guest of honor during the conclusion of Kalivungan Fest last September 1,  said the festivity of unity in diversity was similar to the program of Davao City as shown during the multi-cultural Kadayawan sa Davao Festival which was celebrated last August.

“Mao ni atong kinahanglan, nga maghiusa kita sa luyo sa atong governor, sa atong vice governor, sa atong mga board members, sa atong mga mayors og konsehal even sa atong mga barangay kapitan -- maghiusa kita sa ilang likod kay ang kusog sa mga local government officials naa diha sa katawhan (This is what we need, to unite with our governor, vice governor, Board members, mayors and councilors and even our barangay captains -- we should unite with them because the strength of the local government lies with our constituents),” she said.

Sara said without unity, there will be no fruitful outcome from efforts of government officials.

She also urged the people not to support the New People’s Army (NPA) in their respective barangays and municipalities, and called on them to rally behind the government.

“Naa lang pud koy hangyo, naa koy request nga kung pwede ayaw lang pud ninyo tabangi ang kalaban sa gobyerno para pantay (I have a request to you if you will not help the government, do not also help the enemies of the state to be fair),” Sara said.

She added that the rebels in her city are also the same in the province because the NPA is operating in remote areas of Marilog and Paquibato districts in Davao City going to the municipalities of Arakan and Magpet of Cotabato.

“Moingon lang mo -- sundalo man na, NPA man na, o terrorista, sir, ayaw lang ako ang istoryaha, ayaw alang ako ang i-recruit, ayaw lang diri sa akong tugkaran because ang gusto nako malinawon nga pagpamuyo diri sa among barangay, diri sa among municipality. Gusto nako akong mga anak maka iskwela og tarong, mahuman og iskwela, maka negosyo ko gamay , ang akong bana maka drive og motor ako magka tindahan ang amoang uma matarong namo para sa among harvest -- mao lang ang akong hangyo (Just tell them -- whether they are soldiers, NPA or terrorists, sir don’t talk to us, do not recruit us, not here in our place, because I want peace in our barangay and municipality. I want my children to go to school and finish their studies, have small business, my husband could drive a motorcycle, I could have a small store, fix our farm to have good harvest -- that is my only request),” she said.

She also thanked the people for the support given to his father, President Rodrigo R. Duterte, for giving a convincing win during the 2016 presidential election.

She said her father could not make it without the support of the people there who spent their money to produce campaign materials.

The mayor rallied Cotabateños to support President Duterte in his campaign against illegal drugs, corruption and criminality. (Fernando Fenequito, Jr. / PNA / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

North Cotabato Governor Emmylou “Tala” Taliño-Mendoza speaking before the crown during culmination of the province’s 104th Founding Anniversary and 2018 Kalivungan Festival.