KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews / 6 Nov) – The city government here is targeting to host an international folklore festival by next year to highlight the area’s 75th or diamond foundation anniversary celebration.
City Mayor Peter Miguel said the International Council of Organizations for Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (CIOFF) has initially signified support for the city’s bid to host one of its gatherings in August next year.
He said the group extended such support during the recent 44th CIOFF World Congress and General Assembly held in Bautzen, Germany.
The mayor personally attended the gathering and was recognized by CIOFF as country representative as well as the city’s Pyesta Kolon D’tal as an associate member.
“I was able to get their nod to bring an international folklore to our city. We’ll work on this and make it happen in August 2015,” he said.
Miguel said the planned festivity will highlight dances, songs, rituals and other cultural practices of tribal or indigenous people in the area and the neighboring regions.
He said CIOFF representatives are scheduled to visit the city in March next year to finalize plans for the hosting of the activity.
The mayor said bringing an international festival to the area will entail a lot of work but cited that the city government is up to the task.
He said they have allocated an initial P10 million to set off the preparations for the hosting of the activity.
The Paris-based CIOFF is an official partner of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 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.
The group promotes intangible heritage, through forms of expression such as dance, music, games, rituals, customs and other arts as well as support activities of its members and those of non-governmental organizations working in the areas of folklore and cultural heritage.
The city, which is the regional seat and center of Region 12, will celebrate its 75th foundation anniversary as a settlement on January 10, 2015.
The local government has set a series of festivities for the year-long celebration, among them national sports events and conventions.
The city earlier made a bid to host the 2015 edition of the Palarong Pambansa, which is returning anew to Mindanao after two years.
