COTABATO CITY – Mock cultural villages that showcase the seven major tribes of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will be reopened on June 10 at the regional government’s compound in Cotabato City.
These cultural villages first opened to the public in November last year as part of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of ARMM. It was viewed by at least 100,000 visitors from different provinces in Mindanao not just from the ARMM.
The seven major tribes covered in this event are Maguindanaon, Tausug, Sama, Maranao, Yakan, Iranon, and Teduray. Each village will feature traditional living, culture and arts, and would depict the people and their products on a landscape consistent with those of tribal communities in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
The villages will be open to the general public for 100 days, specifically during the month of Ramadhan. There will also be a series of activities and entertainment in the regional government’s compound to be spearheaded by different regional agencies.
“Ang pagbubukas muli ng cultural villages ay para maipamahagi, maintindihan at lalong maunawaan ng ating mga mamamayan ang kultura, kasaysayan at pamumuhay ng mga tao sa iba’t ibang probinsya ng ARMM (The reopening of the cultutral villages will allow the people to understand better the culture, history, and way of living in various provinces in the region,” said Tourism Secretary Marites Maguindra.
“We added additional healthy living activities, which the people can join like zumba, ‘hataw’ and yoga,” she said.
Aside from these, there will also be a free tour, a children’s day, and an indigenous arts and handicraft exhibit, among others.
A competition among participating tribes and their villages is also part of the event wherein the winning village would be announced during the closing program, or after 100 days. The Tausug village was recognized as the best in last year’s event.
The re-opening of the mock villages will bear the theme “100 Days of Journey in understanding the culture and history of the Bangsamoro towards peace and development.” (Bureau of Public Information)
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