Introduction

Philippines has dozens of festivals and most towns have their own in addition to the
national ones, perhaps the country takes pride to have a colorful culture and artistry that showcase
and promote not just in the local stage but all over the world. In fact, the Philippines has been
recognized of its festival celebrations to be one of a kind. Filipinos has been practiced to embed
this tradition into the Filipino culture and pledged to celebrate it grandly.
It has been a customary tradition that the whole year round of festivities marks the Filipino
calendar and make it a highlight of celebration, be it in thanksgiving, blessings received, good and
abundant harvest and feasts among others. No wonder that the Philippines is recognize as one of
the festival countries in the world.
Festival or event is defined as an essential part of a city life and the event itself contributes
to the city’s promotion. Festivals also functions providing a good vehicle of strengthening the
city’s foundation in terms of coordination of its residents. Festival is a commemoration of culture
or heritage and revival of ritual of communities involve in it. It is also an event that is celebrated
by the community, focusing on a certain aspect that the town is famous for and is often marked as
a local holiday by the local government unit in order for the younger generations to participate in
the series of events that will be held during the week of the celebration (Claveria, 2015). Through
this event, residents of the community find festival as one of the ways for them to share their
experiences. It also provides a space for creativity that can allow people to play with the different
aspects of communication and culture. This kind of event can also be an arena wherein culture of
environmentally aware minds is formed in order to pass the tradition through social interaction
with one another (Bermudez, 2015).
Festivals abounding the country besides being fun, well-managed festivals and events offer
a host of economic and social benefits to communities (GramesandVitcenda, 2012). The benefits
are similar to those for tourism, in general, tourism has the opportunity to bring communities
together and instill a sense of community pride and knowledge of their history.
Every province, town and city celebrate foundation days, patronal fiestas and historic
celebrations. While it is a hodgepodge and flurry of sports and commercial activities, oftentimes
culture and the arts are the central motifs of the celebrations allowing artists to dare and engage in
new projects. Depending on the local expertise, these fiestas become the stage for local visual arts,
music and dance festivals (Carino, 2011).
Apart from the grand celebration and promotion of tourism, there is a significant role that
every festival plays to the community, more than the prestige grand openings and a week-long day
and night celebration and series of different activities, every festival features the culture and
display of unique and colorful tradition. One of the well-known festivals in CARAGA
commemorated every 12th of June is the Naliyagan Festival of Agusan del Sur.
Naliyagan Festival, unlike the usual Catholic-themed Filipino fiesta, does not celebrate a
patron saint nor revolve around a parish church. It is a commemoration of the founding anniversary
of Agusan del Sur, and it pays tribute to everything indigenous and local about the province and
its culture. The Naliyagan is relatively a recent annual tradition. It started in 1993 when the
incumbent governor conceptualized a festival that aimed to recognize the indigenous people and
their contribution to the culture and progress of the province. To be able to come up with an
appropriate name for the festival, the governor consulted the elders of the main tribe of the land,
the Manobo, and they chose the name "Naliyagan" which means the "chosen one, and the most
loved."
During Naliyagan Festival tourists and locals are seen all over the Naliyagan Plaza at Patin-
ay, Prosperidad. Different activities are expected to take part of the prestigious event such as motor
cross racing, and off-road driving races and different sports competition. There are also indigenous
cottages, local agricultural products and handicrafts. Among these activities, one of the most
awaited and highlighted event is the tribal street dancing competition mainly inspired by the
Manobo tribe.
The aim of the street dancing competition is to showcase and promote the rich culture,
tradition, art and customs of the Manobo Tribe and anchor the festival program to revived the
tradition as part of the cultural tourism of Agusan del Sur. United in cultivating talents, exposing
creativity and celebrating culture, the street dancing competition aims to leave a remarkable story
of history among the Manobo. Manobo dance is more than just a dance, it is incorporated with
basic movements of feet in the same direction to make specific detailed motions.
According to the Local Government of Agusan del Sur, the tribal street dancing is one of
promotional stint of the province to proudly exhibit the skills, talents and sincerely appreciate the
colorful tradition and cultural heritage of Agusan del Sur- the home of the Manobos by bringing it
to the limelight.
The researcher, through this study, hopes to help in the preservation and promotion of the
Manobo cultural heritage, for every street dance in during Naliyagan Festival speaks for culture
and tradition from its municipalities.

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Philippines has dozens of festivals and most towns have their own in addition to the

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