Maitum’s Bangsi Festival 2011

Maitum, Sarangani once again toasts its One Town, One Product – the marinated flying fish or bangsi – with the 4th Bangsi Festival on January 27 and 28. The celebration also honors the fisher-folk who capture the bangsi for livelihood.

Around a thousand households depend on the bangsi industry, with average annual catch of more or less 600 tons.

A resolution passed by the Sangguniang Bayan created the festival, citing marinated flying fish or bulad as “highly significant to the municipality because it is one of the top producers of marinated flying fish and other fish by-products within SOCSARGEN area.”

The festival would give “more meaning to its One Town, One Product for purpose of promotion to boost the morale of its fisher-folk aiming for higher family income as well as its diverse culture, tourism, and economy.”

This year’s  festival’s theme is “Masaganang Karagatan, Yaman ng Mamamayan”.

Coastal barangays here offer high economic potential due to the abundant catch of flying fish, availability of local skills in fish processing, and unique technology on marinating fish being practiced by residents.

Majority of the fishing households has pamangsihan, a gear used in catching flying fish.

This indicates how significant flying fish catching plays in the livelihoods of the community, which is done whole year round, with peak season noted during September to May. The men are the ones involved in capture fishing while the women are in fish drying and marinating activities.

Below is the schedule of activities of Maitum’s Bangsi Festival 2011.

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

BANGSI FESTIVAL 2011

26 January:  Day 0

Discover Maitum Safari

27 January:  Day 1

4:00am – 11:00 am – Hudyat ng Pagdiriwang
Jogfest
Hataw sa Dagat
* Opening Prayer
* Thanksgiving Prayer
* Opening Remarks
* Launching of Photo Safari Contest 2011 & introduction of participants
Fluvial Parade
Sand Sculpture
Lumba Bugsay/Lumba Langoy
Nipa Shingle Making
1:00pm  –  Mun. Hall-  Opening of Nindot PAKURA
2:00pm  –  Municipal Gym –  Drum and Lyre Competition
7:00pm  –  Municipal Gym –   Munting Mutya ng Maitum

28 January: Day 3

7:00am Parade around town,  Municipal Gym – 
Bangsi Street Dancing Competition/ Aquatic Mascot Competition
11:00am  –  National Highway-
Sugba sugba sa Kadalanan
1:00pm  –  In front of Mun. Hall/Children’s Park –
Bangsi Cooking Contest/ Slowest Drag Race
Coconut “Tupa” Derby
7:00pm  –  Mun. Gym  – 
Disco Party

Thanks to Ms. Elizabeth Palma Gil for this info and for the photos.