EVERYTHING is set for the 35th Kalilangan Festival and 85th founding anniversary of General Santos City from Feb. 23 to 27, 2024, under the theme "Sa Kultura at Saya Tayo ay Sama-Sama" (In culture and in merriment, we are together).

The Kalilangan Festival commemorates the arrival of Gen. Paulino Santos and his entourage who became the first settlers of the city previously called Dadiangas.

Kalilangan is taken from the root word "kalilang" which means celebration in the Maguindanaon dialect.

The festival also features the ancient instrumental form of music that uses a row of small gongs laid horizontally and accompanied by larger drums and suspended gongs called "kulintang."

The "Salubungan" or welcoming is basically a reenactment of the landing of the general and his group on Feb. 27, 1939.

The celebration also highlights the street dancing competition that caps the festivity which begins at the historical shoreline of the city and ends at the oval plaza where the contingents' main piece is performed using the dancing steps of the Maguindanaoan, T'boli and B'laan tribes in colorful ethnic attire.

Sports tournaments, barangay gatherings, cultural shows, and the playing of Filipino games will also be held during the celebration. JERRY ADLAW

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