Koronadal City all set for 2018 int’l folkloric festival

KORONADAL CITY -- Hundreds of local and international cultural performers are joining the second edition of the city's highly-anticipated Pyesta Kolon Datal: International Folklore Festival, set to open on Saturday (Aug. 11).

City Mayor Peter Miguel said Monday they are all set for the eight-day festivity, which will feature daily showcases of international and local cultures through dances, songs, and traditional instruments as well as cultural exchanges.

Miguel said they have lined "bigger and grander" events for this year's festival, which was first held in 2015.

"We're ready and excited to witness another spectacular display of diverse cultural heritage and folk arts of our participating local and international performers,” he said.

The mayor said at least 10 foreign and four national contingents, including the city’s famed Hinugyaw Cultural Dance Troupe, will be featured during the festival.

He said the international performers are from Caribbean Islands, Republic of Estonia, Romania, Republic of South Africa, Tahiti (French Polynesia), Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Russia, and India.

Participants from the country are the University of the Philippines-Diliman Dance Company, ECD Dance Company of Iloilo City and the Sining Kambayoka Ensemble of the Mindanao State University-Marawi City campus.

Miguel said the international folkloric groups will have repertoires of authentic, elaborated or contemporary dances while the local groups will perform repertoires of folk dances representing local culture.

Aside from this city, the participating groups will also stage performances and lecture-demonstrations in Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat, Alabel in Sarangani Province and in General Santos City.

Through the festival, the mayor said they are hoping to further promote the city and the entire Region 12 (Soccsksargen) as an international cultural and tourist destination.

He said it complements the Department of Tourism's "Go South" campaign, the flagship tourism promotion initiative for Mindanao.

"We want to project that Mindanao is largely a peaceful place and has lots to offer, especially in terms of cultural tourism," he said.

The festival was organized by the city government in coordination with the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (CIOFF).

The Paris-based CIOFF is an official partner of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and is accredited with its Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee.

Created in 1970, CIOFF has been spearheading efforts in “safeguarding, promotion, and diffusion of traditional culture and folklore” in 110 countries. (PNA)