Sambuokan on a high
MATI’s Sambuokan Festival once again paved the way for tourists to flock to one of Mindanao’s youngest and most progressive cities, just in time for a younger generation’s semestral break.
Having become a most visited destination outside of Davao, Mati lures visitors to its beautiful coastal beaches, a laidback lifestyle and very friendly atmosphere. A less than three-hour ride from Davao City on well paved roads rewards you with a beautiful vista of the deep blue sea and a stopover self-portrait with the landmark Sleeping Dinosaur at the cape.
I was born in this former sleepy town which is also the capital of Davao Oriental province. Once a hidden, unspoiled coastal community, Davao region’s secret paradise is now fringed with beach resorts and nonstop activities on Dahican’s long, creamy shoreline. The once unknown municipality has blossomed into a young, promising city filled with potentials and developments.
In the past years, Dahican’s famous strip has been besieged by skimboarders, surfers, celebrities and beach bums who camped by the shore and marvel at the intriguing character of the Pacific sea – sometimes lashing with powerful waves, sometimes as calm and smooth as a flat line. On this wonderful coast, the talented Amihan Boys were formed, disciplined in character and trained with perseverance by George “Kuya Jun” Plaza. One of them, local boy wonder Sonny Boy Aporbo (Bayugyug) com- peted in several regions, and brought home the trophies from HongKong and Malaysia.
The 13th Sambuokan Festival was celebrated on October 23-27, 2011, as a thanksgiving and commemoration of its 109th founding anniversary every 29th of October. Sambuokan showcases Mati’s “oneness” despite diversity of culture, ethnicity, and way of life (“buok” means one).
All hotel rooms were fully booked in that week as visitors came pouring in.The LGU of Mati and the Sambuokan Committee were bent on delivering a multi-event that left the people to decide where to go: the night beach parties along Dahican shores, celebrity concerts at the Baywalk, Hiyas ng Sambuokan culture and talent pageant, Sportsfest in Dahican, Drag Racing and Drifting Exhibition, Jobs Fair, Tribes Day, nightly food fair and entertainment, band showdowns, and a lot more.
Except for one incident marred by rain at a big dance event, what spoiled my fellow media friends and editor’s mood was how they were unceremoniously shooed off the stage in the downpour by a young lady organizer who needs to take lessons in PR and tone down her manners. So I was told.
The highlight remains to be the Indak-Sayaw street dancing competition among eight contingents in a newly constructed platform inside Baywalk Park. With the new administration under Mayor Carlo Rabat and Vice Mayor Glenda Rabat, I expect Mati to be moving forward with the confidence and spirit of a town who has had a succession of great leaders to guide and nurture it. I have been supportive of my birthplace since the early years of governance by all the Rabats who have placed it on the map today. I believe in the Sambuokan’s theme of “oneness” to make the whole city grow in harmony as one strong unit. Visit www.mati.gov.ph for updates. **** (Jojie Alcantara is a long time columnist of SunStar Davao since 1995, and has her blogs and Facebook. Email her at jojiealcantara@gmail.com)