BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi—-Governor Nurbert Sahali led the recent “Kamahardikan” rites of the Agal-Agal to mark the province’s 41st foundation year.
“:No place in the Philippines can equal the high production volume and high-quality seaweeds of our 41-year-old province,” he said in the keynote speech. “We dedicate this Agal-Agal merriment to our seaweed farmers.”
Sahali said the seaweed industry has generated tourism and drew travelers and locators to the isalnd communities.
Rosalie Matilac, writer-director of the documentary film “Ang Pagbabalik sa Tawi-Tawi”, said Agal-Agal is held to “preserve and showcase the culture of the natives, called Sama-Badjao, through a colorful street-dancing competition and a parade of floats using the Badjao “lepa”, or house boats, as the design motif.
He said participants from 11 towns performed traditional dances such as “pangalay/igal”, martial art of “langkasilat” and “langkakuntaw”, and the “lunsay” song-dance ensemble which were documented in 1983 by Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa in her award-winning book “Pangalay”.
The contestants wore native costumes using local materials to promote visual arts, utilized ethnic and indigenous musical instruments, such as “kulintangan,” “agung,” “gandang,” and “bula” (native violin).
Ma. Theresa Sakkalahul, tourism assistant secretary of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, later announced that Sapa-Sapa, Panglima Sugala, and Bongao towns won the street dancing contest.
Also held were the Miss Tawi-Tawi pageant, motoross, fluvial parade, and photo exhibit.