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GenSan Kalilangan Festival in Aliwan Fiesta 2009

by:Jeigh-em Decenilla

Aliwan Fiesta 2009 is an annual gathering of the biggest, loudest and most colourful festivals in the Philippines. It features competitions in Festival Streetdance, Float Design, and Festival Queen or Reyna ng Aliwan. This year’s Aliwan was held last April 23-25, 2009, which culminated in a grand parade that kicked off in front of the Aliw Theater, CCP Complex and winds up at Quirino Grandstand.

The MSU-CETD (Mindanao State University-College of Education Training Department) Performing Arts Guild represented General Santos City’s Kalilangan Festival in the streetdancing competition of this year’s Aliwan Fiesta. The group was led by all-time choreography champion, Mr. George Kimboy. The streetdance featured the B’laans which inhabits the southern part of Sarangani, South Cotabato and General Santos City. The storyline of the dance depicts the natives who celebrate with a Kalilang, using unique traditions that have withstood time. In this showcase, the B’laans portray the Almugan bird’s cry as a good omen for the planting and harvest seasons. They depict the men’s bamboo pakupak, in rhythmic synergy with the women’s sloong and bukag. Offerings called Butne are given to the Adwata for help against pestilence. At harvest time, the natives gather for the Mimodoman in thanksgiving. The dance also depicts a B’laan wedding which uses t’nalak décor and the traditional S’long Kinibang hat among others. The whole presentation focused on B’laan merrymaking called Mimo-Kaflahaw.

Eventhough it rained during the competition, the MSU-CETD Performing Arts Guild still did their best and made it to the finalist wherein they won Php50,000. The group also got the perks of two nights “free-all-rides” at Star City and a trip sponsored by Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay at Tagaytay. The group really enjoyed the whole time in Aiwan Fiesta and indeed they’re proud to say “Basta galing GenSan, galing GenSan!”

Kalilangan Festival

Kalilangan is derived from the root word "kalilang" which typically means celebration or commemoration in the Maguindanaon dialect.

In a broader perspective, Kalilang projects a positive and dynamic meaning for it engulfs the artistic, humane and altruistic aspects of social interaction that takes place in any occasion or celebration.

Kalilangan means festival, festivity or jubilee. It is a social gathering marked by exchanging of amenities among traditional leaders, elders, allies and subordinates in varying tones.

It is also a pageantry of unique and colorful ethnic rites, rituals and traditions like marriage celebrations, religious ceremonies, anniversaries, funerals, enthronement of royal dignitaries, thanksgiving and other forms of social, political and economic activities.


It is not just an economic activity, but a continuous season of merriment, gaiety and merrymaking accentuated by sharing of gifts, traditional sports competition, dancing, singing and instrumental rendition and other forms of exhibition games, entertainment and amusement.

Kalilangan is a noble tradition. It is a complete work of art nourished and nurtured by rich cultural heritage that has withstand the test of time from generation to generation.

General Santos is a part of this tradition. Let us enshrine the "Kalilangan sa Heneral Santos" in the golden pages of its history.

Kalilangan Festival is usually celebrated during the month of February