The rarity of Shariff Kabunsuan Festival

FIRST-TIME visitors who visited Cotabato City last Dec. 19, 2008 to cover the 11th Shariff Kabunsuan Festival were treated to a food fest by Bai Sandra Sema and her beloved husband, Mayor Moslemin Sema. Their first stop was at the Tantawan Garden, where they had a healthy merienda consisting of mango shake, fresh durian fruit, and assorted maguin-delis. The group proceeded to the El Commedor Restaurant to partake of a sumptuous buffet spread waiting for them.The grand opening was held at Tantawan, where local singers entertained the crowd.

Cotabato is one of the most exciting and dynamic cities in Mindanao. It is considered the seat of Islam (introduced by Shariff Mohamad Kabunsuan in 1515) and Christianity (the first Catholic church was supposedly built by the Jesuits in 1871 at Tamontaka). It is also famous for its women weavers called Al Jamelah. They create exquisite inaul malongs and other Moslem accessories and souvenir items.

The Shariff Kabunsuan Festival commemorates the arrival of Mohammad Shariff Kabunsuan, an Arab missionary from Johore who introduced Islam to the natives of Central Mindanao. Among the highlights of the event included the ?Ginakit ? fluvial parade, which was held at the Rio Grande de Mindanao River, the second longest river in the Philippines.

Nine bancas were adorned with colorful and eye-catching traditional Moslem trappings. Aboard these bancas were musicians and dancers enchanting visitors with their performance.

With the theme ?Celebrating Cultural Diversity,? some of the activities were the civic-cultural parade, Lilang-lilang and Pagana. The Kuyog Street Dancing and Inaul Fashion Show will be held on the 50th Araw ng Kutabato celebration in 2010. Bai Sandra Sema was the founder and chairperson of the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival and City Tourism Council.

Four years ago, Shariff Kabunsuan Festival was adjudged as Best Tourism Event in the Philippines (City category) at the 7th Association of Tourism Officers of the Phils (ATOP).

The festivities ended with a Pagana food feast held at the posh People?s Palace.

?There is so much more to discover and celebrate about our beloved city and we?d like to share this with our people and the rest of the world,? said Mayor Sema and his wife. ? Ayo Gunting