The Blaan rider

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (February 28, 2009) – A B'laan horseman joins the celebration of Kalilangan Festival and 70th founding anniversary Friday, February 27, of General Santos City. Kalilangan is derived from the root word "kalilang" which typically means celebration or commemoration in the Maguindanaon dialect. General Santos City lies between the east and west coasts of Sarangani province with Sarangani Bay as the city’s maritime passageway. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/Cocoy Sexcion)

Tug of war

KIAMBA, Sarangani (February 13, 2009) – Ken-Ken Juan (in yellow shirt)overpowers his opponent and declared as champion of the "Sudol dek", a tribal version of tug of war during the Muslim & Tribal Day February 11 at Kiamba's 5th Timpuyog Festival. (Photo by Allan C. de Lima/KIAMBA NEWS & INFORMATION CENTER)

Tboli courtship dance

KIAMBA, Sarangani (February 13, 2009) – Members of the Lemuhen Cultural Dance Troupe performs the "Madal temelek", a Tboli courtship dance during the Muslim & Tribal Day February 11 at Kiamba's 5th Timpuyog Festival. (Photo by Allan C. de Lima/KIAMBA NEWS & INFORMATION CENTER)

Pole artist

KIAMBA, Sarangani (February 13, 2009) – Michael Sagam crosses a 15-foot rattan pole which is a tribal contest known as "Kametay Luas" during the Muslim & Tribal Day February 11 at Kiamba's 5th Timpuyog Festival. (Photo by Allan C. de Lima/KIAMBA NEWS & INFORMATION CENTER)

Indigenous firemaking

KIAMBA, Sarangani (February 13, 2009) – Consito Tamfalan is the fastest contestant to make fire out of bamboo materials, commonly known as "Kamesong" in Tboli. The contest is part of the activities during the Muslim & Tribal Day February 11 at Kiamba's 5th Timpuyog Festival. (Photo by Allan C. de Lima/KIAMBA NEWS & INFORMATION CENTER)

Comfort room donation

MAITUM, Sarangani (February 5, 2009) – American missionary Dan Evans (right) turns over keys of the donated comfort room (CR) to head teacher Aura Mirayo of Kipalkuda Elementary School. The new CR will provide greater sanitation and hygiene for the school property, students, and teachers. The school with 350 students in grades 1-6 is located in barangay New La Union. The construction project was initiated and funded by the Datu Wali Mission of Maitum, with planning assistance by the Maitum municipal engineering department, and hands-on supervision by engineer Gilbert Rocapor. Datu Wali Mission directors, Dan and Aurea Evans, who sponsor other programs to assist the children of Kipalkuda school, raised funds among their foundation supporters in the U.S. for the project. The CR follows a standard Unicef design, with all concrete walls and floor, and a dedicated septic tank. The original design was expanded to include two stalls in the female side of the CR, and a stall and urinal in the male section. Fresh water for flushing is supplied by a spring, and an outdoor faucet was incorporated for hand washing. (Photo courtesy of Datu Wali
Mission/MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE)

Tribal wrestling

MAASIM, Sarangani (February 5, 2009) – A huge crowd enjoys watching the S'buno, a tribal wrestling among the Blaans and Tbolis during a community outreach and medical mission Wednesday, February 4 at the barangay site in Amsipit. The community welcomed Governor Migs Dominguez who celebrated with villagers a day before his birthday. The governor usually celebrates his birthday in the province's farthest
barangays. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Mass wedding

MAASIM, Sarangani (February 5, 2009) – Mayor Aniceto Lopez, Jr. officiates a mass wedding (Kasalan ng Bayan) for 21 Blaan couples in barangay Amsipit Wednesday, February 4. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Bridal kiss

MAASIM, Sarangani (February 5, 2009) – Newly-wed couples kiss after the Kasalan ng Bayan (mass wedding) in a community outreach and medical mission Wednesday, February 4, as Governor Migs Dominguez celebrates with the community a day before his 32nd birthday. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Gift packs

MAASIM, Sarangani (February 5, 2009) – Mothers carry their gift packs from Governor Migs Dominguez. Provincial and municipal employees conducted a community outreach and medical mission at barangay Amsipit Wednesday, February 4, in partnership with YACAP, Alcantara Foundation, Conal Holdings Corporation, Southern Philippines Power
Corporation, and doctors from General Santos City. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Gov. Migs with kids

MAASIM, Sarangani (February 4, 2009) – Governor Migs Dominguez celebrates with village children in barangay Amsipit Wednesday, February 4, a day before his 32nd birthday. Provincial and municipal officials conducted a community outreach and medical mission at Amsipit, a former insurgency hotbed which is now Dole Philippines'
pineapple expansion area. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)